Victor Conte, man behind MLB’s biggest steroid scandal, dies at 75

Victor Conte, the man once at the heart of one of the biggest scandals in sports history, has died at 75 after fighting pancreatic cancer. His company, SNAC Nutrition, shared the sad news on Monday, writing, “We are heartbroken by the passing of our fearless leader, SNAC mastermind, and anti-doping advocate, Victor Conte.” The post added, “We will honor his wishes. SNAC and his legacy will carry forward strong and forever.” Conte had been receiving treatment for cancer earlier this year, according to SNAC.

Victor Conte’s role in the BALCO MLB steroid scandal that rocked baseball

Victor Conte was the founder of BALCO, the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, a company that became famous for all the wrong reasons in the early 2000s. It was linked to a massive doping scandal that shook Major League Baseball. Athletes including Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi were connected to BALCO, which was accused of providing illegal performance-enhancing drugs.In 2005, Victor Conte admitted to distributing steroids and money laundering. He served time in prison after pleading guilty. The scandal exposed how deep doping had spread in baseball and even track and field. It led to new drug testing rules and stricter anti-doping efforts across major sports. The story made Conte one of the most controversial figures in American sports.

Victor Conte’s journey from doping controversy to anti-doping advocate and SNAC legacy

After serving his sentence, Victor Conte tried to rebuild his image. He became an anti-doping advocate and continued working in sports through his company SNAC, which focused on legal supplements and nutrition for athletes. Over the years, he worked with many top fighters and athletes, including boxing star Devin Haney.Also Read: Did Blake Treinen really wear a Charlie Kirk hat during the World Series? The truth behind the viral photoIn 2024, after boxer Ryan Garcia tested positive for a banned substance following his win over Devin Haney, Conte spoke publicly about clean sports and fair testing. Despite his past, many athletes respected his knowledge about training and nutrition.Victor Conte’s story remains complicated, from being the mastermind behind baseball’s steroid scandal to becoming a voice for clean competition. He passed away on November 3, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones. His company, SNAC, said they will continue his mission and carry forward his legacy.