SAN FRANCISCO Four men charged with distributing steroids

The indictment alleges they provided performance-enhancing drugs to athletes.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The men accused of providing steroids to dozens of athletes were downright meticulous.
Federal prosecutors said the men gave their drugs code names, carefully worded e-mails to avoid detection and even provided athletes with cover stories if caught.
But they were less careful when it came to garbage, and prosecutors say that helped lead to their downfall. Important elements of the government's case -- appreciative notes from athletes, canceled checks, empty pill sheets -- were gleaned from the trash behind the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or BALCO.
Four men were charged Thursday in a 42-count indictment alleging they ran a steroid-distribution ring that provided performance-enhancing drugs to dozens of athletes in the NFL, the major leagues and track and field. No athletes were named in the indictments.
Indicted
One of those indicted was Barry Bonds' nutritional guru, and another was the slugger's personal trainer, Greg Anderson. A third was a world-class track coach whose sprinters won gold medals, but then flunked drug tests.
"I am saddened by the news of the indictment against my trainer and friend," Bonds said.
All four were given until this morning to turn themselves in and make an initial court appearance. If not, warrants were to be issued for their arrest.
Dozens of athletes, ranging from Bonds to Olympic runner Marion Jones to boxer Shane Mosley, appeared before a federal grand jury in November and December. Though offered limited immunity in exchange for their testimony, athletes still could face perjury charges if prosecutors believe they lied about drug use to the grand jury.
Prosecution may expand
"We have not limited prosecution in this setting to those who are being prosecuted today," Attorney General John Ashcroft said at a Washington news conference to announce the charges, without providing further details.
"Illegal steroid use calls into question not only the integrity of the athletes who use them, but also the integrity of the sports that those athletes play," Ashcroft said. "Steroids are bad for sports, they're bad for players, they're bad for young people who hold athletes up as role models."
The indictment names Anderson and Remi Korchemny, a track coach whose pupils include sprinter Kelli White -- who faces forfeiture of two world championship gold medals because she tested positive for a banned stimulant. Also indicted were BALCO founder Victor Conte and the lab's vice president, James Valente.
Anti-doping policies
Culmination of the 18-month investigation came three weeks after President Bush called in his State of the Union address for U.S. sports leagues to adopt tougher anti-doping policies and for athletes to set a better example for American youngsters.
The charges include conspiracy to distribute steroids, possession of human growth hormone, misbranding drugs with intent to defraud and money laundering. The defendants face long prison terms and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines if convicted.
The drugs included anabolic steroids, the stimulant modafinil and the newly unmasked steroid THG. The indictment alleges that THG was fraudulently marketed to athletes as an undetectable steroid, and that the men distributed a mixture they dubbed "the cream" to mask steroid use.