TAC Officials Investigating Los Angeles Coach : Allegations of DeBus’ Role in Helping Athletes Use Steroids Is Under Review

The Athletics Congress, which governs track and field in the United States, announced it has begun an investigation into allegations that Chuck DeBus, former coach of the Los Angeles Track Club, had “assisted or incited” athletes in taking performance-enhancing drugs.

The announcement was made at a TAC board of directors’ meeting Sunday at Indianapolis. A TAC official said Monday that he had gathered affidavits from athletes formerly coached by DeBus and that dates will soon be set for a formal hearing.

DeBus was recently named by Olympic sprinter Diane Williams as the person who introduced her to drugs. Williams said that DeBus, who was then her coach, gave her anabolic steroids in an unmarked bottle. Williams admitted to using drugs before the 1984 Olympics, where she was named an alternate on the sprint relay.

DeBus was a track coach at UCLA and Cal State Northridge and has coached some of the United States’ best female athletes. He is no longer actively coaching.

DeBus denied Williams’ charge and has said that he is against any use of performance-enhancing drugs. DeBus could not be reached for comment Monday.

DeBus’ name also was mentioned in the early days of the Canadian inquiry into drug use in sport last January.

Dr. Norman Gledhill of Toronto’s York University told the hearing that he was approached by DeBus in 1982. Gledhill testified that DeBus was looking for information on blood doping.

“He also asked if it was possible to bring his athletes to Toronto and have them tested for blood doping and I said, ‘Definitely not,’ ” Gledhill said.

The TAC directors passed a resolution that called for the investigation after reviewing information gathered from several athletes.

Alvin Chriss, special assistant to the TAC executive director, said Monday that DeBus is alleged to have broken an International Amateur Athletic Federation operating regulation that says that “any person assisting or inciting others to use doping substances shall be considered as having committed an offense against IAAF rules, and thus renders himself liable to disciplinary action.”

IAAF is the sport’s international governing body.

The rule is less than a year old and this is believed to be one of the few instances in which it has been applied. It is the first time it has been applied in this country.

Chriss also said that, if it is found that DeBus violated the rule, he could be subject to the same penalties as if he had taken the drugs himself.

The TAC panel will be composed of a chairman, who has already been selected, and two panel members. Chriss said the full panel is expected to be named within a few days.

He said that DeBus would be sent notice of the hearing by certified mail and that the hearing would take place within 30 or 60 days from the date of the notice, on the West Coast.

Chriss said that TAC is at the beginning of its investigation.

“It is our hope that people will come forward with additional information,” he said.

Chriss said he understood that the timing of the investigation appeared to be linked to the Canadian drug inquiry, but that TAC has been monitoring domestic drug use for some time.

“I expect some people to raise some questions and ask what we plan to do with this,” Chriss said. “There is a can of worms.”

Chriss said he expects DeBus and some athletes to be called to testify.

TAC will conduct the hearings as an internal inquiry. It does not have subpoena power, the right to put people under oath and can’t compel anyone to answer questions.