Graham maintains his innocence in BALCO probe ; Track and field coach is freed on $25,000 bond

SAN FRANCISCO -- Trevor Graham, who has coached Olympic championsMarion Jones and Justin Gatlin, pleaded not guilty Thursday toaccusations he hindered a federal steroids investigation targetingbaseball star Barry Bonds and other high-profile athletes.

Graham is charged with three counts of making false statements tofederal agents in an indictment issued Nov. 1 by the grand juryinvestigating performance-enhancing drugs in professional sports.

He was freed on $25,000 bond after appearing briefly before U.S.Magistrate Edwin Chen. His attorney, Gail Shifman, entered the pleaon Graham's behalf.

Graham did not comment, but Shifman told reporters outside courtthat "he'll be vindicated" at trial. If convicted, Graham faces amaximum of 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

Shifman declined to answer questions about whether Grahamsupplied athletes with performance-enhancing drugs or told athleteswhere they were available, as the indictment alleges. Graham wasgranted immunity for his cooperation but not from prosecution formaking false statements.

Shifman said the charges were "really regrettable," becauseGraham's intention had been to clean up track and field.

Three years ago, he helped spark the steroid investigation byanonymously mailing a vial containing "the clear," a previouslyundetectable steroid, to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. The probe hasnetted five convictions, including that of Patrick Arnold, theIllinois chemist who produced the clear for the Bay Area LaboratoryCo-Operative.

Bonds' trainer, Greg Anderson, also was convicted in the BALCOinvestigation. The grand jury is examining whether Bonds committedperjury when he told a 2003 grand jury that he never knowingly usedsteroids. He testified he believed Anderson had supplied him withflaxseed oil and arthritis balm.

San Francisco U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan said after the hearingthat the government's steroid probe "is an ongoing investigation."

"Whether or not there will be more indictments," he told KGO-AM,"only time will tell."

Graham operates Raleigh, N.C.-based Sprint Capitol USA, a team ofabout 10 athletes that includes Gatlin, the 100-meter co-worldrecord holder who tested positive for testosterone and othersteroids in April. He also coached Jones, a sprinter who won fivemedals at the 2000 Sydney Games, and her ex-boyfriend TimMontgomery, formerly the world's fastest man who was suspended fromcompetition for two years for doping.

Following Graham's indictment, Olympic 200-meter gold medalistShawn Crawford and former U.S. 100-meter champion Me'Lisa Barberannounced they would no longer train with him.

Graham maintains his innocence in BALCO probe ; Track and field coach is freed on $25,000 bond

SAN FRANCISCO -- Trevor Graham, who has coached Olympic championsMarion Jones and Justin Gatlin, pleaded not guilty Thursday toaccusations he hindered a federal steroids investigation targetingbaseball star Barry Bonds and other high-profile athletes.

Graham is charged with three counts of making false statements tofederal agents in an indictment issued Nov. 1 by the grand juryinvestigating performance-enhancing drugs in professional sports.

He was freed on $25,000 bond after appearing briefly before U.S.Magistrate Edwin Chen. His attorney, Gail Shifman, entered the pleaon Graham's behalf.

Graham did not comment, but Shifman told reporters outside courtthat "he'll be vindicated" at trial. If convicted, Graham faces amaximum of 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

Shifman declined to answer questions about whether Grahamsupplied athletes with performance-enhancing drugs or told athleteswhere they were available, as the indictment alleges. Graham wasgranted immunity for his cooperation but not from prosecution formaking false statements.

Shifman said the charges were "really regrettable," becauseGraham's intention had been to clean up track and field.

Three years ago, he helped spark the steroid investigation byanonymously mailing a vial containing "the clear," a previouslyundetectable steroid, to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. The probe hasnetted five convictions, including that of Patrick Arnold, theIllinois chemist who produced the clear for the Bay Area LaboratoryCo-Operative.

Bonds' trainer, Greg Anderson, also was convicted in the BALCOinvestigation. The grand jury is examining whether Bonds committedperjury when he told a 2003 grand jury that he never knowingly usedsteroids. He testified he believed Anderson had supplied him withflaxseed oil and arthritis balm.

San Francisco U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan said after the hearingthat the government's steroid probe "is an ongoing investigation."

"Whether or not there will be more indictments," he told KGO-AM,"only time will tell."

Graham operates Raleigh, N.C.-based Sprint Capitol USA, a team ofabout 10 athletes that includes Gatlin, the 100-meter co-worldrecord holder who tested positive for testosterone and othersteroids in April. He also coached Jones, a sprinter who won fivemedals at the 2000 Sydney Games, and her ex-boyfriend TimMontgomery, formerly the world's fastest man who was suspended fromcompetition for two years for doping.

Following Graham's indictment, Olympic 200-meter gold medalistShawn Crawford and former U.S. 100-meter champion Me'Lisa Barberannounced they would no longer train with him.