Tim Montgomery

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Timothy Montgomery (born January 25, 1975) is a former American athlete and 100 m record holder. He was disgraced and stripped of his records after being found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.

1 Career
2 Steroid scandal
3 Money laundering scandal
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Career

Born in Gaffney, South Carolina, Montgomery was initially a basketball and football player, before trying out for track. Montgomery did not qualify for the 1996 Summer Olympics 100 metres, although he did compete in Atlanta in the heats of the 4 x 100 metres relay team that eventually finished second. He qualified for his first major international tournament in 1997, and won the bronze medal at those World Championships, finishing third behind Maurice Greene. Two years later, he came in sixth in the individual final, but did win a gold medal with the US relay team.

Montgomery did not qualify for the individual 100 m at the 2000 Summer Olympics, though he again ran as an alternate in the heats of the relay event; in the final, the USA won the gold medal.

The greatest moment in Montgomery's career came in September 2002, as he broke Greene's 100 m world record by 0.01 seconds. With a tailwind of 2.0 m/s (the maximum allowed), Montgomery ran 9.78 to earn the title of world record-holder and "fastest man on earth." This record would later be officially discredited because of doping (see below).

[edit] Steroid scandal

Montgomery did not qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics, finishing seventh in the final of the United States Olympic trials. Before the trials, however, he was charged with using illegal performance-enhancing drugs, by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). While he has not returned a positive drug test, according to press reports he testified to the agency that he, along with a number of other prominent athletes (including baseball star Barry Bonds), obtained steroids and human growth hormone from BALCO, a laboratory near San Francisco. The USADA sought a four year suspension on Montgomery, who appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). On 13 December 2005, the CAS found Montgomery guilty and imposed a two year ban. On top of the ban, all of Montgomery's results and awards since 31 March 2001, including his former world record, had also been stripped.[1] After the ban was announced, Montgomery announced his retirement.

Marion Jones, his former partner and the winner of the women's 100 metres at the 2000 games, is also under investigation. Montgomery and Jones have one child. Both were implicated in the 2006 steroid exposé Game of Shadows.

[edit] Money laundering scandal

In April 2006, Montgomery was indicted and arrested on fraud charges for his alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme. He is accused of depositing three bogus checks totaling $775,000. Montgomery allegedly received $20,000 for his participation. His former coach, Steven Riddick, is also a defendant in the case. [2]