Boxing World Reacts To Victor Conte’s Death

Victor Conte, who became known for the BALCO lab scandal, has died at 75 after suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Conte was found guilty after his BALCO lab was charged with steroid distribution to top athletes, which later also followed with a money laundering charge. Conte pleaded guilty in 2005 after which he did time behind bars. Following that scandal, Conte reestablished himself in sports by setting up his Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC) program. He worked with numerous fighters such as Devin Haney and Terence Crawford. Conte also worked with VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) in an advisory role. His name came up after Ryan Garcia’s failed VADA tests for Ostarine, which turned his Devin Haney win into a no-contest. 

“We are heartbroken by the passing of our fearless leader. Your memory will forever live in our hearts,” SNAC statement

His Career

Conte’s legacy has naturally divided opinion. The resulting criminal case severely damaged the integrity of several sports. It confirmed the suspicion that cheating was rampant and that official drug testing protocols were easily circumvented. For every athlete who cheated, there was a clean athlete robbed of a medal. The fallout included the stripping of records and medals from athletes like Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery.

However, following the scandel, Conte reinvented himself. His knowledge of how to cheat gave him unique insight into how to catch cheats. Conte became an outspoken anti-doping advocate. By emphasizing rigorous testing and science-backed nutrition, he helped set a higher standard for fighters. Elite champions like Devin Haney and Terence Crawford utilized his SNAC system, trusting his ability to maximize their performance cleanly.