Graham denies drug charge guilt
The top American coach accused of making false statements to federal agents about his athletes using drugs has pleaded not guilty to magistrates in San Francisco.
Jamaican-born Trevor Graham, who has coached Olympic sprint gold medallists Shawn Crawford, Justin Gatlin and Marion Jones, was released on bail after pledging a bond of $25,000 (€19,600).
Graham blew the whistle on the Balco scandal three years ago which saw many leading US stars and Great Britain’s Dwain Chambers suspended for the use of tetrahydrogestrinone (THG).
He has always protested his innocence of involvement in drugs distribution.
His first court appearance came just a fortnight after being indicted of making false statements and the trial is now expected to become a drawn-out affair.
The prosecution allege Graham has provided athletes he has coached with performance-enhancing drugs for almost 10 years and claim he lied when interviewed as part of an investigation into the affair in 2004.
Graham, if eventually found guilty, could be imprisoned for five years and fined $250,000 (€195,800).
