FORMER OLYMPIC CHAMPION AND WORLD-RECORD HOLDING SPRINTER TIM MONTGOMERY WAS ARRESTED ON FRIDAY IN CONNECTION WITH A MULTI-MILLION BANK FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME, FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAID, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. MONTGOMERY AND 13 OTHERS, INCLUDING HIS COACH, 1976 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST STEVEN RIDDICK, WERE CHARGED WITH PARTICIPATING IN A CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD BANKS BY DEPOSITING STOLEN, ALTERED AND COUNTERFEIT CHECKS AND THEN LAUNDERING THE PROCEEDS THROUGH VARIOUS ACCOUNTS. THE INDICTMENT FILED IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT IN MANHATTAN CHARGES THAT THE RING STOLE, ALTERED OR COUNTERFEITED AT LEAST SOME 20 CHECKS TOTALLING WELL OVER $5 MILLION. MONTGOMERY HAS BEEN FIGHTING A TWO-YEAR DOPING BAN IMPOSED ON HIM IN DECEMBER BY COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) ON THE BASIS OF TESTIMONY OF FELLOW-AMERICAN SPRINTER KELLI WHITE AND EVIDENCE ACCEPTED FROM THE U.S. ANTI-DOPING AGENCY THAT HE HAD TAKEN BANNED SUBSTANCES PROVIDED BY CALIFORNIA LABORATORY BALCO. MONTGOMERY, 31, NEVER FAILED A DOPING TEST WHILE HE WAS COMPETING AND HAS DENIED TAKING PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS. THE CAS RULING ANNULLED ALL OF MONTGOMERY'S RESULTS SINCE MARCH 31, 2001, INCLUDING HIS 2002 WORLD 100 METERS RECORD. THE SPRINTER HAS INSISTED HE WOULD NOT RETURN PRIZE MONEY BEIGN DEMANDED BY THE INTERNATIONA ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETICS FEDERATIONS (IAAF) IN THE WAKE OF THE DOPING BAN. MONTGOMERY WAS PART OF THE WINNING 4X100 METERS U.S. RELAY TEAM AT THE 2000 SYDNEY OLYMPICS. -
