Alleged Bias Cocaine Supplier Surrenders

Brian Tribble, who prosecutors say supplied the cocaine that killed University of Maryland basketball star Len Bias, surrendered to police Monday in Upper Marlboro, Md. He was jailed when he couldn’t post the $250,000 bond.

Tribble, a longtime friend of Bias, was indicted Friday on charges of distributing cocaine, possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, possessing cocaine and possessing PCP, said his lawyer, William Cahill.

Tribble, 24, was identified as the man who placed an emergency call to the Prince George’s County rescue squad after Bias was stricken June 19, according to a tape recording of the conversation released a week ago.

Meanwhile, university Chancellor John B. Slaughter asked a task force to consider tougher academic standards for student-athletes at the school.

Football Coach Bobby Ross appeared before the subcommittee, which met behind closed doors. According to a published report last week, basketball Coach Lefty Driesell was invited to appear. He did not show.

Slaughter is considering a policy “that would declare all student-athletes who are on academic warning or below, as ineligible for intercollegiate athletics as long as they remain in this status.”

A final report to Slaughter is due Sept. 30.

Published reports in the wake of Bias’ death have pointed out he had flunked or quit all his courses in the last half of his senior year, and that four other basketball players also were failing classes that semester.