For several years Raleigh was an important place in the world of track and field competition. Olympic champions and world-record holders lived and trained here, under the tutelage of track coach Trevor Graham. Surprisingly, a city without a major track stadium became home base for some of the fastest runners on the planet.

They included Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Justin Gatlin. Yes, they were talented -- but we know now that those three got a leg up on the competition by cheating, by using banned performance-enhancing drugs. Now they're off track and in prison (Jones), facing prison (Montgomery) or barred from competing for an Olympic team berth (Gatlin).

In recent weeks, the coach, a native of Jamaica who graduated from St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, has followed them into disgrace. In May a jury convicted Graham of lying to federal agents investigating steroids. Last week the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency banned Graham from track and field for life.

Gatlin once told The N&O: "I was fast to begin with, and he has shown me shortcuts to get even faster." The runner was speaking of technique, but his words have taken on another meaning. What a shame.

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