SAN CARLOS, California – Victor Conte is firing back at his critics.

Conte was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but the controversial figure still serves as an advisor for the nutrition and training programs of several high-profile fighters. 

Conte’s nutrition company, SNAC System, sponsors – among others – Terence Crawford, Devin Haney, Claressa Shields, and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. Conte recently found himself in the crosshairs of controversy over reasonable suspicion around his past. In the early 2000s, Conte was federally indicted over the distribution of designer steroids and sentenced to four months in prison. These suspicions have now become talking points in the lead-up to a November title fight between WBO welterweight titleholder Brian Norman Jnr and Haney. On the Porter Way podcast, one of the stinging blows from the conversation was journalist Sean Zittel bringing up that he had asked Conte if he knew how to beat the VADA test, and Conte said, “Yes.”
Conte told BoxingScene: “Because I know how to beat a test does not mean I have done so for 22 years. I have been clean since 2004. I have been an anti-doping advocate since 2005. “Knowing how to do something and doing so are not the same.”

Conte has continuously argued that people change.

“Enough of this, ‘Conte knows how to pass drug tests,’” Conte said. “Let's be clear that knowing how to do something and doing it are two different things. I have not given any athlete a PED since 2003, which is 22 years ago. All these comments are simply speculation."

Conte also addressed speculation about his involvement with VADA, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency, which has become one of the most well-known doping agencies in boxing. It is also an agency that Conte recommends fighters use based on the drugs testing policies. An example is Ryan Garcia, who originally defeated Haney via a majority decision, but after failing a drugs test for Ostarine, the bout’s result was overturned. Conspiracy theories began to emerge around Conte being involved with the drugs testing process, something Conte denies.

“The idea that I currently have a close existing relationship with VADA is false,” Conte said. “Many years ago, I provided consultation to WADA, USADA, and VADA. This was per the request of each entity. They were all seeking my input about how I was circumventing the drug testing. I provided such info to all of them to help them create more effective testing programs.

Over the past year, a name from Conte’s past has emerged: Shane Mosley. Mosley tweeted the following in May 2024, “The man responsible for me and #RyanGarcia testing positive is Victor Conte. Very controversial guy.”

The two have gone back and forth with each other for years. Mosley was named in the BALCO scandal, along with Conte. Mosley insists that he thought he was taking supplements, while Conte points to grand jury testimony from Mosley, which is uploaded to the SNAC System’s YouTube channel. 

“Shane Mosley is telling outright lies,” Conte said. “He knew exactly and precisely what he was doing. He testified under oath that he knowingly used EPO. He is now trying to rewrite history.” 

Conte believes the only way a clean sport can be achieved is year-round drug testing and he pointed to Haney, a fighter he sponsors, as a prime example, as he is the only fighter listed on the VADA website as a 24/7/365 athlete, meaning he could be tested at any time.

“Boxers are using other drugs between fights when there is no testing,” Conte said. 

Conte, a self-described anti-doping advocate, now has the biggest fight of his life ahead of him: a battle with cancer. While one of his sponsored athletes, Crawford, is facing Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on September 13, Conte is tired of being defined by his past.

“I hoped that my knowledge from the dark side would contribute to clean sport,” Conte said. “Boxing is a dangerous sport and needs effective testing.”