Victor Conte death prompts divided reaction

The reaction to Victor Conte’s death reflected his complicated legacy — the mastermind of the BALCO steroids scandal who vowed he had turned around his life while working with world champion boxers until just months before his death.

Tim Montgomery, the retired sprinter who worked with Conte on his way to setting a world record in the 100 meters in 2002 before being found guilty of using PEDs, is among the skeptics who spoke after Conte’s death was announced on Nov. 3. Conte, 75, had undergone treatment for pancreatic cancer.

“I can’t really be mad at Victor, you know what I’m saying?’’ Montgomery told USA TODAY Sports about taking PEDs from Conte. “He didn’t trick me. He convinced me, and then I convinced myself (to use banned substances). Most of the people’s lives that he was part of, they was willing participants, if you know what I’m saying.’’

Victor Conte’s death sparks polarized reactions

Montgomery said he is convinced Conte remained active in helping athletes circumvent drug testing, although he had no evidence to prove it..

“This guy wanted the limelight,’’ Montgomery said. “He wanted to go on podcasts. He wanted to talk about drugs. He wanted to still be with athletes.’’

Conte worked with world champion boxers including Terence Crawford, Claressa Shields and Devin Haney.

Bill Haney, Devin Haney’s father and manager, said Conte helped develop Devin Haney into a champion without the use of banned drugs. He has held world titles in the lightweight division.

At Conte’s urging, Devin Haney in January became the first boxer to agree to 24-7 year-round drug testing by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.

“We lost a very important figure who turned his life around, and he is been a vanguard for guys like Devin and me fighting on the right side of the sport,’’ Bill Haney told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s all we’ve ever got a chance to experience with him. … And we’ll continue that crusade that he started in terms of cleaning up boxing and bringing in awareness to PEDs and drug use.’’

Shields wrote on X, ‘RIP @VictorConte. You fought hard.”

Other reactions on social media also underscored Conte’s polarizing nature.

One X user wrote, “His counsel help make @Vada_Testing into the greatest bulwark to PED cheaters in the sport.’’

Another X user wrote, “Victor Conte was a controversial guy, but did help a lot of athletes through his SNAC program.’’

Chimed in yet another X user, “Long live the dude who made baseball more watchable and made boxers better athletes. RIP Victor Conte.’’

The skeptics and critics shared their views too.

Another X user wrote, “I know y’all are not about to sit up here and sympathize with Victor Conte right?’’

Yet another X user wrote, “You choose how to conduct your life and he did so with no integrity.’’

Adam Abramowitz, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, helped capture the divide that enveloped Conte.

“I’m not sure where Victor Conte falls on the hero/villain axis as it relates to boxing,’ he wrote on X. ‘But he was a very intelligent man with a lot of talent.’’