They accused. He denied. More accused. He denied more. Now a jury will decide the truth about Raleigh's once celebrated and now embattled track coach, Trevor Graham.

Was the former St. Augustine's College runner a gifted teacher who groomed Olympic gold medalists? Or was he a manipulator who used performance-enhancing drugs to produce tainted champions?

Jury selection in Graham's federal trial is set to begin Monday in San Francisco. He is charged with three counts of making false statements to federal investigators about his ties to a Texas man who says he provided Graham with performance-enhancing drugs.

As the trial unfolds, witnesses are likely to talk about the use and distribution of performance-enhancing drugs by others in track and field, making accusations that could further stain the sport's image. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency will send a representative to observe the entire trial.

New investigations based on testimony at the trial could develop.

More attention to doping comes at a vulnerable time for track and field, which is about to enter the spotlight of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Michael S. Straubel, a Valparaiso University law school professor, said the testimony in Graham's case could further sour the casual fan's taste for the maligned sport.

"Whether some of this stuff is true or not, I have a feeling that a lot of mud is going to be thrown around at the trial," he said. "A lot of names coming out, a lot of names of people accused of doing this and doing that."

Recriminations ahead

Indeed, Graham appears intent on using the trial as a stage for accusing others. He could not be reached for comment this week, but last month he told The Washington Post:

"There's going to be a lot of publicity on a lot of people's parts who did a lot of things behind closed doors. ... Now it's all going to be dragged out in front of the whole world. It's going to embarrass the United States, and it's going to embarrass these athletes."

Graham, founder of the Raleigh-based Sprint Capitol track club, built an international reputation for training some of the world's fastest men and women. During workouts conducted at N.C. State University's Paul Derr Track, he prepared Marion Jones to win five Olympic medals in 2000, coached Tim Montgomery when he set a 100-meter world record and guided sprinters Justin Gatlin and Shawn Crawford to Olympic gold medals in 2004.

But throughout his rise, Graham, 44, was shadowed by allegations that he encouraged doping and provided drugs to his athletes. Many of them, including Jones, Montgomery and Gatlin, were later suspended for doping.

Graham has denied any link to banned substances, but he will now face a parade of his former athletes who are expected to testify otherwise.

Credibility is crucial

Graham's trial will revolve around whether he lied to federal agents about his relationship with a Laredo, Texas, drug distributor, Angel "Memo" Heredia. According to court documents, Heredia will testify that he provided Graham with "illegal and banned performance enhancing drugs" and "provided such drugs to several athletes who were referred to [him] by the defendant."

Graham's attorney, William Patrick Keane, could not be reached for comment. But in a motion he filed in the case, Keane pointed to his likely defense -- attacking Heredia's credibility:

"Graham's defense is built around showing that Heredia's contradictory accusations against Graham are not true and merely an effort to attempt to divert attention from his illicit drug dealings."

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