WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Sources: Trevor Graham Targeted By Grand Jury

Jul 28, 2007

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Raleigh track coach who helped spark a major sports doping investigation may be its next target.

ESPN is reporting that several people close to Trevor Graham are testifying in front of a grand jury in San Francisco. Graham has coached sprinter Justin Gatlin, who recently disclosed a positive test for testosterone or other steroids. He has also been involved with at least a half-dozen athletes who have received drug suspensions.

In June 2003, Graham helped launch the federal investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative by anonymously mailing a syringe containing a previously undetectable steroid to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

In an interview with WRAL in August, Graham denied all involvement, and said that an unknown person is "working with the media to try and get me banned" from coaching athletes by the United States Olympic Committee, which has banished him from its training sites.

"I haven't been charged with anything," said Graham. "I've never given my athletes any kind of dope."

At the time, Graham said that he plans to file lawsuits against whoever is behind the accusations.

"(I have) over 53 world and Olympic medals (won by current and former clients)," he said. "No coach is actually close to accomplishing that goal. If they get rid of me, maybe the other coaches can step up and other athletes have a chance."

According to ESPN.com, one of the athletes who might have been called before the grand jury last week was Antonio Pettigrew, a former member of Graham's team who was recently hired as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina. Pettigrew declined to comment to ESPN about the legal proceedings.