Victor Conte, central figure in the BALCO lab steroid scandal, dies at 75

Victor Conte, Central Figure in the BALCO Steroid Scandal, Dies at 75

Victor Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), passed away at the age of 75 on Monday. His family and SNAC, a sports nutrition company he led, confirmed his death. Conte had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, as announced by his company in June.

“We are heartbroken by the passing of our fearless leader, SNAC mastermind, CEO, anti-doping advocate, creator of ZMA, former Tower of Power and Herbie Hancock bassist, Victor Conte. SNAC and his legacy will carry forward, strong and forever. We love you, Conte!”

Conte’s BALCO company became infamous for its involvement in a major doping scandal that shook professional sports, including baseball, boxing, and track and field. BALCO was revealed to be at the center of a sophisticated scheme that supplied performance-enhancing drugs to high-profile athletes such as Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Marion Jones.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency reported that Conte worked alongside chemist Patrick Arnold to develop tetrahydrogestrinone, nicknamed “The Clear.” This synthetic anabolic–androgenic steroid was designed to be undetectable by the drug testing methods then in use, as it was a newly created compound.

Legacy and Impact

Founder of BALCO, implicated in delivering performance-enhancing drugs to athletes.
Key figure in exposing doping issues in professional sports.
Creator of ZMA, a popular sports supplement.
Known for his advocacy against doping later in life.

Victor Conte’s story remains a significant chapter in sports history, highlighting both the risks of doping and the quest for clean competition.

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Victor Conte, Central Figure in the BALCO Steroid Scandal, Dies at 75

Legacy and Impact

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