Conte, architect of BALCO scandal, dies at 75

"The federal government's investigation into another company Conte founded, the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, yielded convictions of Jones, elite sprint cyclist Tammy Thomas, and former NFL defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield along with coaches, distributors, a trainer, a chemist and a lawyer. The investigation led to the book "Game of Shadows." A week after the book was published in 2006, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig hired former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to investigate steroids."

"Conte said he sold steroids known as "the cream" and "the clear" and advised on their use to dozens of elite athletes including Giambi, a five-time major league All-Star, the Mitchell report said. The federal investigation into BALCO began with a tax agent digging through the company's trash. Conte wound up pleading guilty to two of the 42 charges against him in 2005 before trial and served four months in a minimum-security prison."

Victor Conte founded SNAC System and earlier founded the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO). He died at 75; cause of death was not disclosed. A federal investigation of BALCO led to convictions of Marion Jones, sprint cyclist Tammy Thomas, former NFL lineman Dana Stubblefield, coaches, distributors, a trainer, a chemist and a lawyer. The probe led to the book "Game of Shadows," and prompted a 2006 steroid investigation led by George Mitchell. Conte sold steroids known as "the cream" and "the clear" and advised dozens of elite athletes. He pleaded guilty to two charges in 2005 and served four months in prison.

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