BALCO jury hears from 4 Raiders Running back Wheatley strikes photographer before testifying

SAN FRANCISCO -- Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley hita photographer outside a federal courthouse Thursday, hours prior totestifying before a grand jury probing a nutritional supplements lab.

Wheatley was one of five NFL players -- including four Raiders --to appear Thursday before the panel. Others included former NFLdefensive player of the year Dana Stubblefield and Kansas City Chiefswide receiver Johnnie Morton.

Also appearing before the grand jury Thursday was Marion Jones,who won an unprecedented five track medals in the 2000 SydneyOlympics.

"I can't make any comment, you guys. I would if I could, but Ican't," Jones said as she left the grand jury room following herafternoon appearance.

Wheatley threatened and cursed at a group of photographers and TVcameramen outside the building, then raised his right fist andslapped photographer Noah Berger hard on the right wrist after Bergertook a photo of him Thursday morning.

Berger, a free-lance photographer on assignment for The AssociatedPress, said he was nothurt. He filed a report with the FederalProtective Service, but it was not clear whether Wheatley would becharged.

Wheatley, who appeared before the grand jury in the afternoon,declined to comment when asked repeatedly about the incident.

The five players -- also including Raiders fullback ChrisHetherington and defensive tackle Chris Cooper -- were the first non-track and field athletes to testify in the case.

Stubblefield, the NFL defensive player of the year in 1997 whilewith the San Francisco 49ers, declined to comment after his morningappearance. His attorney, Michael Armstrong, also refused to comment.

Morton, who had four seasons with more than 1,000 yards receivingfor the Detroit Lions before joining the Chiefs two seasons ago, alsorefused to comment after his morning appearance.

Track and field stars, including Tim Montgomery, the world record-holder at 100 meters and Jones' boyfriend, have appeared before thepanel in previous weeks. Dozens of other athletes, includingbaseball's Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi and boxer Shane Mosley, alsohave been subpoenaed.

It's not clear what, if any, drug charges might result from theinvestigation. An appearance before the grand jury, or beingsubpoenaed to testify, does not mean an athlete is a target of theprobe.

Federal officials have refused to discuss the grand jury or thescope of its secret proceedings, but two sources familiar with thegrand jury have said the probe is focusing on drug use by athletes aswell as possible tax evasion by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or BALCO.

An attorney for BALCO founder Victor Conte has said his client isa target of the grand jury investigation.

BALCO also is at the center of an investigation by anti-dopingagencies into the newly discovered steroid THG. An unidentified coachwho turned in a used syringe containing THG said he got the substancefrom Conte, who has denied being the course of the substance.

At least five track and field athletes already have testedpositive for THG and face two-year bans.

BALCO jury hears from 4 Raiders Running back Wheatley strikes photographer before testifying

SAN FRANCISCO -- Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley hita photographer outside a federal courthouse Thursday, hours prior totestifying before a grand jury probing a nutritional supplements lab.

Wheatley was one of five NFL players -- including four Raiders --to appear Thursday before the panel. Others included former NFLdefensive player of the year Dana Stubblefield and Kansas City Chiefswide receiver Johnnie Morton.

Also appearing before the grand jury Thursday was Marion Jones,who won an unprecedented five track medals in the 2000 SydneyOlympics.

"I can't make any comment, you guys. I would if I could, but Ican't," Jones said as she left the grand jury room following herafternoon appearance.

Wheatley threatened and cursed at a group of photographers and TVcameramen outside the building, then raised his right fist andslapped photographer Noah Berger hard on the right wrist after Bergertook a photo of him Thursday morning.

Berger, a free-lance photographer on assignment for The AssociatedPress, said he was nothurt. He filed a report with the FederalProtective Service, but it was not clear whether Wheatley would becharged.

Wheatley, who appeared before the grand jury in the afternoon,declined to comment when asked repeatedly about the incident.

The five players -- also including Raiders fullback ChrisHetherington and defensive tackle Chris Cooper -- were the first non-track and field athletes to testify in the case.

Stubblefield, the NFL defensive player of the year in 1997 whilewith the San Francisco 49ers, declined to comment after his morningappearance. His attorney, Michael Armstrong, also refused to comment.

Morton, who had four seasons with more than 1,000 yards receivingfor the Detroit Lions before joining the Chiefs two seasons ago, alsorefused to comment after his morning appearance.

Track and field stars, including Tim Montgomery, the world record-holder at 100 meters and Jones' boyfriend, have appeared before thepanel in previous weeks. Dozens of other athletes, includingbaseball's Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi and boxer Shane Mosley, alsohave been subpoenaed.

It's not clear what, if any, drug charges might result from theinvestigation. An appearance before the grand jury, or beingsubpoenaed to testify, does not mean an athlete is a target of theprobe.

Federal officials have refused to discuss the grand jury or thescope of its secret proceedings, but two sources familiar with thegrand jury have said the probe is focusing on drug use by athletes aswell as possible tax evasion by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or BALCO.

An attorney for BALCO founder Victor Conte has said his client isa target of the grand jury investigation.

BALCO also is at the center of an investigation by anti-dopingagencies into the newly discovered steroid THG. An unidentified coachwho turned in a used syringe containing THG said he got the substancefrom Conte, who has denied being the course of the substance.

At least five track and field athletes already have testedpositive for THG and face two-year bans.