Convicted track coach banned for life

Colorado Springs -- The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced Tuesday track coach Trevor Graham would be banned from all Olympic-related activity for the rest of his life.

Graham, who has been associated with track stars Marion Jones, Justin Gatlin and Tim Montgomery, was convicted two months ago of lying to federal investigators in their probe of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative scandal.

Graham will not be allowed to participate in any activity organized by the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Track & Field or the sport's international governing body.

He was originally accused by the Anti-Doping Agency of violating rules prohibiting possession, trafficking and administering performance-enhancing drugs.

"While drug use by athletes is a serious wrong to be addressed with stiff penalties, involvement in doping by a coach is even more reprehensible and must be dealt with through the most severe of all sanctions," anti-doping agency Chief Executive Officer Travis Tygart said.

Bill Roe, acting president of USA Track & Field, said his organization "applauds USADA for issuing a lifetime ban."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.