Victor Conte, known for his role in the steroid scandal that shook the sports world in 2003, has passed away at the age of 75 after a struggle with pancreatic cancer.
His company, Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC), shared the news on X.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our fearless leader, SNAC Mastermind, CEO, Anti-Doping Advocate, founder of ZMA®, and former bassist for Tower of Power and Herbie Hancock,” the announcement stated.
“We honor his wishes. SNAC and his legacy will endure. We love you, Conte!” it continued.
Conte became a controversial figure in 2003 when the FBI raided his previous company, Barco, during the investigation into the steroid scandal that impacted various sports leagues, notably Major League Baseball.
He later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering in 2005, admitting to providing performance-enhancing drugs to high-profile athletes such as baseball legend Barry Bonds and Olympic champion Marion Jones.
Conte spent four months in a minimum-security federal prison. Over time, he expressed regret about his involvement in the scandal, yet he also displayed pride in the athletes’ achievements in a Netflix documentary.
“When Marion Jones crosses the finish line to win a gold medal, when Barry Bonds hits a home run—all those accomplishments are moments I’ll always take pride in,” he remarked.
Despite his past, Conte later marketed natural supplements through SNAC and advised boxers like Terrence “Bud” Crawford and Claressa Shields.
