Tim Montgomery faces the prospect of being banned from the Olympics in Athens this summer by the International Association of Athletics Federations even if the United States itself takes no action.
The world 100 metres record holder has the threat of a two-year ban hanging over him after being informed by the US Anti-Doping Agency last week that he is being investigated over alleged links with the San Francisco-based Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (Balco).
"We are committed to a clean sport," said Istvan Gyulai, the secretary of the IAAF. "We don't want anything to happen that would undermine the creditability of our sport. As soon as we have evidence that doping offences have been committed, action can be taken."
Montgomery is one of four US athletes to have received letters from Usada warning him that he may have committed a doping offence and he has until this week to answer the allegations.
Authorities hope to clear up the matter before the US Olympic trials begin on July 9 but there are fears that the whole process could get bogged down in legal problems, affording athletes the opportunity of competing in Athens while still under investigation. The IAAF does not want any athlete linked to a drug inquiry to compete at the games unless he or she has been completely exonerated.
The IAAF will take the decision whether to suspend the athletes after it has seen the evidence, which it will not receive until the Usada hearings have taken place.
"Of course we are worried," said Gyulai. "It is our duty to be worried. But if doping offences have been committed then I am sure the American authorities will take the right action."
In another development, US federal authorities last Tuesday interviewed Trevor Graham, the former coach of Montgomery and of the sprinter's partner Marion Jones, the triple Olympic champion, as part of their investigation into Balco.
Graham was granted limited immunity and spoke for three hours with Jeff Novitzky, a special agent for the Internal Revenue Service and a lead investigator in the Balco case.
Graham coaches Alvin Harrison, the 2000 Olympic 400m silver medallist and another to have received notification that he is under investigation by Usada. The Jamaican also formerly coached Michelle Collins, the world indoor champion at 200m in 2003, another to have received a letter. The fourth athlete under investigation is Chryste Gaines, ranked No2 in the world over 100m last year.
Last week the FBI interviewed CJ Hunter, Jones's former husband. The lawyer for the 1999 world shot put champion said he was cooperating with the authorities. Montgomery and Jones deny having ever taken performance-enhancing drugs.
The FBI inquiry began over alleged tax evasion by Victor Conte, founder and owner of Balco. Conte is one of four men in the case charged with distributing steroids and laundering money.
