Aug. 4, 2004

(U-WIRE) RALEIGH, N.C. - C.J. Hunter, assistant strength and conditioning coach for the N.C. State football team, has found himself in the middle of a steroid scandal for the second time in four years. According to reports first published by the San Francisco Chronicle, Hunter spent several hours talking to an IRS representative investigating a doping scandal with the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, a California-based company that supplies nutritional supplements to athletes. During Hunter's statement, he reportedly told investigators he had personally injected banned substances into his then-wife Marion Jones during the 2000 Olympic Games in which Jones won three gold medals. Among the banned substances were a human-growth hormone, the steroid THG and an endurance-boosting drug EPO. Hunter, who won a world title in the shot put in 1999, retired after he was banned from the 2000 Olympic games for testing positive four times for steroids. Hunter has previously denied taking steroids during his years as a competitor, claiming that his four positive tests in Sydney were the result of having taken a tainted nutritional supplement. Hunter did admit to using banned substances in an attempt to lose weight after his retirement in his statements to the IRS, according to the Chronicle. His statements have raised some questions about his position at N.C. State, where he oversees the strength training of Wolfpack football players. Philip Carter, a microbiology and immunology professor who recently served on the university's Council on Athletics, sees it as an issue that needs to be looked into. "We have to determine what actually has occurred, and as far as I'm aware that's what the athletics director [Lee Fowler] is pursuing," Carter said. "This is about the safety of our student-athletes, it would be very unfortunate if our students are involved in anabolic steroids." Fowler is on vacation this week and could not be reached for comment. Hunter declined an interview request, said a spokesperson from the school's media relations department. Coach Chuck Amato speculated on Hunter's future with State at the ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro last weekend. "This is something that happened before we hired him," he said. "What you sometimes forget is that it was his wife. He's done a great job for us and the kids, and I hope he's there. And I think he will be. Time will tell." Former State football player Austin Herbert, who worked with Hunter during his stint as the team's punter before graduating in May, doesn't believe his former coach was involved with anything during his time at State. "I don't know how in the world a guy could get away with taking anything with all the coaches and trainers monitoring your every move" Herbert said. In fact, Herbert, who was recently named the College of Management's Outstanding Entrepreneurship Student, specifically recalled an instance where Hunter told him to avoid all forms of dietary supplements. "I remember asking him a few times about things to take to keep up my energy during workouts, and all he said was to eat healthy." Herbert said. "I was like 'There is a lot of stuff at GNC' and he told me not to mess with that -- he really got on me about it." The Council on Athletics is scheduled to meet Aug. 27, and Hunter's position at State could be brought up during the meeting, according to chairman Don Ward, who has served on the council for more than a decade. "It's a possibility if the issue is not resolved by then," Ward said. "We have no executive power, however; we are merely an advisory council to the chancellor and the athletics director." Ward also stated that the council's recommendations are generally well-received by both the chancellor and athletic director. Fowler and interim chancellor Robert Barnhardt have final say in all personnel decisions, though.