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A couple of nutritionists, a veteran track coach and a personal trainer were indicted on federal drug charges Thursday, an unassuming beginning to a case that may wind up putting the character of American sport on trial.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a 42-count indictment that alleges conspiracy, money laundering and distribution of performance-enhancing drugs to dozens of elite athletes, including Major League Baseball and NFL players.
No athletes were charged or named in the indictment, but it nonetheless struck the government's most significant blow against illegal doping among U.S. athletes.
The San Francisco grand jury indicted Victor Conte Jr., founder and CEO of BALCO, a Bay Area nutrition lab, and James Valente, his vice president. But what will make the case sizzle if and when it goes to trial are the charges against trainer Greg Anderson, home-run king Barry Bonds' longtime personal trainer, and 71-year-old Remi Korchemny, who has coached a stable of track champions, including Lithonia's Chrystie Gaines.
Where this all leads may not be known for years, but in making his announcement, Ashcroft echoed a theme introduced by President Bush in his State of the Union speech last month: Illegal doping has drawn the federal government's full attention.
"Illegal steroid use calls into question not only the integrity of the athletes who use them, but also the integrity of the sports that those athletes play," Ashcroft said. "Steroids are bad for sports. They're bad for players. They're bad for young people who hold athletes up as role models."
Conte and BALCO were cited for the distribution of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG, the "designer steroid" first detected last summer.
Federal agents raided Anderson's apartment last fall and found steroids, $60,000 in cash and logs of what drugs some of his clients were taking.
The indictment details instances of drugs supplied to NFL and Major League Baseball players as well as track and field athletes. "We fully expect that developments in the U.S. attorney's proceedings and our ongoing investigation will lead to the initiation of more doping cases against athletes and others," said Terry Madden, chief executive of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which conducts Olympic drug testing.
Bonds, who hit a record 73 home runs three seasons ago, did not speak with reporters Thursday. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig had no comment, nor did anyone at the Major League Players Association. Major League Baseball this season is instituting penalties for steroid use.
The NFL Players Association, which saw four of its members test positive for THG last year, said it hoped news of the indictments rang through its locker rooms.
"You would hope athletes would learn from this," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the football players union. "It's illegal and you can get in trouble for it, and they can't avoid seeing that."
Though the NFL has had random drug testing since 1990, some players see the risk of suspension as small and say one set of indictments won't lessen the availability of performance-enhancing drugs.
"I think there will be other companies and other situations where you're selling this designer steroid and designer drugs," retired linebacker Seth Joyner said. "There's a demand for that, and they're willing to do that if they don't get caught. THG took a fall. Something else will come along."
Bonds had been outspoken in his praise for Conte and provided a formal endorsement for BALCO's nutrition program in a summer issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine. Bonds was one of a parade of high-profile athletes, including New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi and Olympic swimming champion Amy Van Dyken, to testify before the grand jury last December.
Lithonia's Gaines, who also testified over the winter, tested positive for the stimulant modfinil at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in June. Under Korchemny's coaching, she produced her two fastest times in the 100 meters at age 33.
Another Korchemny client, Dwain Chambers of Great Britain, won the European 100 medal but tested positive for THG and may be suspended from competing for two years.
"There is absolutely no place in sports for the use of illegal substances," said Jim Scherr, acting chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee. "The message these indictments sends is clear: If you break the rules, you should expect to be caught."
-- Staff writers Ken Sugiura and Karen Rosen contributed to this report.
Steroids in sports
Former major leaguer Ken Caminiti says he was on steroids when he won the National League MVP award in 1996, according to a report in the June 3, 2002 issue of Sports Illustrated.
Former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion John McEnroe has admitted unwittingly taking steroids for six years. The 44-year-old who also won four U.S. Open titles between 1979 and 1984 was reacting to Greg Rusedski's admission that he had tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.
During his magical 1998 season, where he broke baseball's home run record, Mark McGwire admitted taking androstenedione -- a substance which is classified as an androgenic steroid and increases the levels of testosterone in the body. Androstenedione is banned by the NFL, the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee. Despite the health risks, McGwire was not breaking any rules by taking androstenedione, which was not banned by MLB at the time.
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was banned for life from track and field after testing positive for drug use. Johnson lost his world records and 1988 Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters after testing positive for anabolic steroids at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
Lyle Alzado, 43, who played for the Denver Broncos (1971-1979) and Cleveland Browns (1979-1982), was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, which he attributed to years of taking steroids and human growth hormones to build his physique for football.
-- compiled by Sharon Gaus
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a 42-count indictment that alleges conspiracy, money laundering and distribution of performance-enhancing drugs to dozens of elite athletes, including Major League Baseball and NFL players.
No athletes were charged or named in the indictment, but it nonetheless struck the government's most significant blow against illegal doping among U.S. athletes.
The San Francisco grand jury indicted Victor Conte Jr., founder and CEO of BALCO, a Bay Area nutrition lab, and James Valente, his vice president. But what will make the case sizzle if and when it goes to trial are the charges against trainer Greg Anderson, home-run king Barry Bonds' longtime personal trainer, and 71-year-old Remi Korchemny, who has coached a stable of track champions, including Lithonia's Chrystie Gaines.
Where this all leads may not be known for years, but in making his announcement, Ashcroft echoed a theme introduced by President Bush in his State of the Union speech last month: Illegal doping has drawn the federal government's full attention.
"Illegal steroid use calls into question not only the integrity of the athletes who use them, but also the integrity of the sports that those athletes play," Ashcroft said. "Steroids are bad for sports. They're bad for players. They're bad for young people who hold athletes up as role models."
Conte and BALCO were cited for the distribution of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG, the "designer steroid" first detected last summer.
Federal agents raided Anderson's apartment last fall and found steroids, $60,000 in cash and logs of what drugs some of his clients were taking.
The indictment details instances of drugs supplied to NFL and Major League Baseball players as well as track and field athletes. "We fully expect that developments in the U.S. attorney's proceedings and our ongoing investigation will lead to the initiation of more doping cases against athletes and others," said Terry Madden, chief executive of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which conducts Olympic drug testing.
Bonds, who hit a record 73 home runs three seasons ago, did not speak with reporters Thursday. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig had no comment, nor did anyone at the Major League Players Association. Major League Baseball this season is instituting penalties for steroid use.
The NFL Players Association, which saw four of its members test positive for THG last year, said it hoped news of the indictments rang through its locker rooms.
"You would hope athletes would learn from this," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the football players union. "It's illegal and you can get in trouble for it, and they can't avoid seeing that."
Though the NFL has had random drug testing since 1990, some players see the risk of suspension as small and say one set of indictments won't lessen the availability of performance-enhancing drugs.
"I think there will be other companies and other situations where you're selling this designer steroid and designer drugs," retired linebacker Seth Joyner said. "There's a demand for that, and they're willing to do that if they don't get caught. THG took a fall. Something else will come along."
Bonds had been outspoken in his praise for Conte and provided a formal endorsement for BALCO's nutrition program in a summer issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine. Bonds was one of a parade of high-profile athletes, including New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi and Olympic swimming champion Amy Van Dyken, to testify before the grand jury last December.
Lithonia's Gaines, who also testified over the winter, tested positive for the stimulant modfinil at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in June. Under Korchemny's coaching, she produced her two fastest times in the 100 meters at age 33.
Another Korchemny client, Dwain Chambers of Great Britain, won the European 100 medal but tested positive for THG and may be suspended from competing for two years.
"There is absolutely no place in sports for the use of illegal substances," said Jim Scherr, acting chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee. "The message these indictments sends is clear: If you break the rules, you should expect to be caught."
-- Staff writers Ken Sugiura and Karen Rosen contributed to this report.
Steroids in sports
Former major leaguer Ken Caminiti says he was on steroids when he won the National League MVP award in 1996, according to a report in the June 3, 2002 issue of Sports Illustrated.
Former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion John McEnroe has admitted unwittingly taking steroids for six years. The 44-year-old who also won four U.S. Open titles between 1979 and 1984 was reacting to Greg Rusedski's admission that he had tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.
During his magical 1998 season, where he broke baseball's home run record, Mark McGwire admitted taking androstenedione -- a substance which is classified as an androgenic steroid and increases the levels of testosterone in the body. Androstenedione is banned by the NFL, the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee. Despite the health risks, McGwire was not breaking any rules by taking androstenedione, which was not banned by MLB at the time.
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was banned for life from track and field after testing positive for drug use. Johnson lost his world records and 1988 Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters after testing positive for anabolic steroids at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
Lyle Alzado, 43, who played for the Denver Broncos (1971-1979) and Cleveland Browns (1979-1982), was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, which he attributed to years of taking steroids and human growth hormones to build his physique for football.
-- compiled by Sharon Gaus
