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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday tentatively barred two of eight ex-athletics stars from testifying against their former coach Trevor Graham during his trial on false statement charges later this month.
Graham has pleaded not guilty to lying to government investigators when he told them that he never obtained performance enhancing drugs
from Angel «Memo» Heredia, a weight trainer expected to serve as the prosecution's key witness.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston said that federal prosecutors can't call sprinters Michelle Collins and Calvin Harrison to the witness stand because neither appeared able to provide a direct link between Graham and Heredia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Finnigan argued that their testimony was needed to help show Graham's motivation for allegedly lying about his dealings with Heredia, who prosecutors contend sent Graham several shipments of drugs banned by athletics authorities.
"These are two people who can testify in detail that he pushes these drugs on his athletes and that he will assist them in taking them," Finnigan argued, telling the judge that Graham received 10 percent of Collins' earnings while she trained with him. "He encouraged doping, so he could make more money, become more famous and attract more clients. It's a very simple motive."
The judge said prosecutors can try to change her mind during the trial, which is scheduled to start May 19.
Six other former Graham clients are scheduled to testify, including Olympic champion Antonio Pettigrew, who is expected to tell jurors that he used drugs bought from Heredia with Graham's knowledge, according to prosecutors' filings last week.
"We are obviously pleased with the rulings we had in our favor," said Graham's attorney William Keane.
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