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Graham indicted in drug investigation he started

This article is more than 17 years old

Trevor Graham, the Jamaican former coach of at least 13 athletes linked to doping offences, including Britain's Dwain Chambers, has been indicted in the investigation he helped begin three years ago. A federal grand jury in San Francisco returned a three-count indictment accusing Graham of making false statements to special agents. It alleges that Graham obtained illegal performance-enhancing drugs from an unidentified source and gave them to athletes he coached. It also says he referred athletes to an unnamed source so they could obtain them directly.

While Graham had spoken with investigators, he had not been granted immunity from prosecution for making false statements. Graham was issued a summons to appear for arraignment on November 16. If convicted, he could face 15 years in prison and £395,000 in fines.

The charges arise from the Bay Area Laboratory Company investigation which began in 2003 when Graham sent a syringe anonymously to the US Anti-Doping Agency. When the contents were analysed it was found to contain a previously undetectable steroid THG, "the clear".

While several of Graham's athletes have received suspensions for drug use, he has always denied knowledge or involvement. One of his top athletes was Justin Gatlin, who claimed a share of the 100 metres world record in April, only to have it taken away after he tested positive for testosterone. Chambers was banned for two years in 2003 for using THG. Graham has also coached and trained the US Olympic athletes Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and CJ Hunter.

Jones failed a preliminary test for erythropoietin (EPO) in June but was cleared by a second sample, and maintains she has not used illegal substances. Her former husband Hunter tested positive for the steroid nandrolone and was banned for two years and Montgomery has been suspended until June 2007.

In a statement to investigators in 2004, Graham denied providing any of his athletes with performance-enhancing drugs. The Balco investigation has led to five convictions, including its founder, Victor Conte Jr, and former vice-president, James Valente.

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