ATHLETICS Doping verdicts: Tim Montgomery's career was all but ended last night when he was given a two-year drugs ban following evidence given to an international tribunal by the training partner of Britain's Dwain Chambers.
His ban is from June 2005, but all the American's results, rankings, awards and winnings from March 2001 were wiped out due to the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport - including his victory at the Grand Prix final in Paris in September 2002 where he set a world record for the 100 metres of 9.78 seconds.
The International Association of Athletics Federations is now set to demand back the $250,000 he won in prizemoney and bonuses for that performance.
Its chances of ever seeing the money may be remote if Montgomery carries out his threat to retire. He will be 32 when his suspension expires in 2007.
"His exact words were, 'This does not make any sense, please explain it to me'," said Montgomery's coach, Steve Riddick.
"At first, he said, 'I'm done'. But I don't think he is. I think that was just his initial reaction. If he trains like he did last year and the following year he will be ready to run (in 2007)."
The decision to ban Montgomery and Chryste Gaines - another American sprinter who was also banned for two years - for their involvement with the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (Balco), was taken after the court heard evidence from Kelli White.
White, stripped of the world 100 metres and 200 metres titles she had won in Paris and banned for two years after her own involvement with Balco was exposed, has since turned whistleblower and gave evidence against Montgomery.
She said he had told her he used the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), produced by Balco, and the anabolic steroid for which Chambers tested positive and is currently serving a two-year ban.
The Londoner used to share the same coach with White in Remi Korchemny, who is facing prison next month after pleading guilty to distributing steroids to elite athletes.
Chambers could receive lottery funding in the future should he regain his former level of performance following his return to the track from his ban.
The European 100 metres champion has insisted he can make a positive comeback, despite his lengthy drugs suspension, and prove himself once again as a world-class performer.
Although his ban expired on November 7th, he still has to complete a series of reinstatement anti-doping tests in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency regulations.
But the 27-year-old insists he will return to competition soon, perhaps at an indoor event some time in the New Year.
"I need to get some money back in my pocket, because I'm broke," Chambers said. "I have to get on with my career and earn a living for myself."
BalcoCasualties:
TIM MONTGOMERY
Born in South Carolina (1975).
Set 100m world record in 2002.
Given two-year ban by CAS.
CHRYSTE GAINES
Born in Oklahoma (1970).
Three world sprint relay golds.
Given two-year ban by CAS.
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