Deliberations begin in Graham case

SAN FRANCISCO: A jury began its deliberations on Tuesday in the case of Trevor Graham, the controversial athletics coach whose anonymous tip helped spark the largest doping scandal in sports.

The jury met for about an hour before retiring for the day and the deliberations will continue on Wednesday.

Graham, former coach of Olympic sprinters Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Justin Gatlin, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of lying to federal agents investigating the BALCO doping scandal.

The 44-year-old Jamaican-born American is not charged with distributing steroids but lying about his involvement with them. He could face up to 15 years in prison and $750,000 in fines if convicted of all charges.

"This is a very simple and straightforward case," assistant US Attorney Jeffrey Finigan told the jury in his closing statement.

"When federal agents come to speak with you, if you choose to speak with them, you tell them the truth. He (Graham) knew who was coming, he knew exactly why they were coming."

Court-appointed defense attorney William Keane argued that Graham's comments to the agents were not material to the prosecution's cases against BALCO, the company at the heart of the steroid scandal, or Jones, who has admitted using steroids and is currently in federal prison.

"This was not material to Marion Jones or material to any other part of the BALCO investigation," Keane said.

Agencies

(China Daily 05/29/2008 page20)