Drugs in Sport: Sprinter Maurice Greene has denied reports linking him to performance-enhancing drugs, describing the claims as "messed up".
According to a report in the New York Times, the American — who won the 100metres gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 — was one of 12 athletes named by former discus thrower Angel Guillermo Heredia as having been supplied with banned substances.
Four of the 12 athletes, including Marion Jones, have already been named and barred from competition for illicit drug use. Eight of the 12 — including Greene — have never been previously linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
Greene, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a five-time world champion, has never failed a drug test. The 33-year-old retired in February and is an ambassador for the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Greene told the Daily Telegraph: "This is a bad situation for me. My name's come up in something and it's not true. This is real messed up. It's an embarrassing situation. I have met him before and when he was talking to me, I told him I don't believe in this stuff.
"I have met with a lot of people who wanted me to try this and that. Everyone wanted me to work with them. But me getting anything or doing anything? I have not. My stance has always been that there is no place in our sport for drug users.
"I have always said that you should be banned for life if you come up positive even once. I stand by that."
Heredia, who is the main witness in the case against Trevor Graham — coach of Jones, Greene and others — will testify that Graham supplied illicit drugs and advice on their use to his camp of elite athletes as well as to many other sprinters and their coaches.
Heredia has claimed he supplied banned substances to Graham and his athletes.