Slaney Claims Coach Said She Needed Drugs

Mary Slaney charged at a news conference Thursday in New York that Chuck DeBus, former coach of the Los Angeles Track Club, suggested in 1978 that she needed to take performance-enhancing drugs if she wanted to keep up with the rest of the running world.

Slaney said she was 19 when DeBus, then a prominent coach, approached her about taking drugs.

“He said I wouldn’t be able to perform internationally if I didn’t take drugs,” Slaney said at a news conference held in conjunction with Saturday’s L’eggs Mini Marathon. “He was trying to recruit me for the (Los Angeles) Naturite Track Club.”

In Los Angeles, DeBus, who once coached women’s track and field at UCLA and Cal State Northridge, told The Times that he did not recall having any such discussion with Slaney.

A three-member panel of The Athletics Congress, the national governing body for track and field, will conduct a hearing July 11 in the L.A. area, at which time a dozen individuals who have made similar accusations against DeBus will be asked to testify.

However, Alvin Chriss, who willrepresent TAC at the hearing, characterized Slaney’s charge Thursday as not useful and said he did not intend to call her as a witness.

“I have found many, many people who, nine years or so after the fact, are willing to come forward,” Chriss said from TAC’s office in Indianapolis. “I really can’t do much with that information if it’s 11 years old.

“I do not want to criticize Mary Slaney. I have complete confidence that what Mary said is true. But the world is full of people who are willing to tell me information that is 11 years old.

“What I haven’t got is anybody willing to tell me about the 1988 Olympics. I’m waiting for someone who is big and brave and strong to come forward and tell me about 1988.”

DeBus, reached at his home in Santa Monica said: “Regrettably, many athletes I have known over the years have inquired about steroids. I have absolutely no recollection of ever having a discussion with Mary where the use of drugs ever came up.

“I always counseled my athletes to avoid steroid use and I hope that she has not used drugs. I was the first contemporary coach I know to develop world-class performances in women’s track and field without resorting to the use of drugs. So, naturally, some people have been suspicious.”

Chriss pointed out that even if DeBus did suggest to Slaney that she use drugs, there was no rule against it in 1978. TAC’s “incitement rule,” which prohibits coaches or others from encouraging athletes to use drugs, went into effect only 18 months ago.

“It may not have been morally right, but it wasn’t against the rules,” Chriss said.

He said that the DeBus hearing would focus on recent events.

“We are probably not going to be interested in anything more than 24 months old,” Chriss said.

Slaney was the 1983 world champion at 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters, world record-holder in the mile, and U.S. record-holder at all distances from 800 meters to 10,000 meters.

She said that when DeBus approached her, she told him she wasn’t interested.

“I didn’t believe in his methods and I didn’t want to participate in his system,” she said. “I said, ‘I can’t do that.’

“At that time and now, I don’t believe in drug usage. I haven’t even touched on my potential naturally, so why should I use them?”

Slaney said that two years after DeBus offered her drugs, she was approached again, by someone she would not identify.

“I turned down the offer,” Slaney said. “I think people believe if you are going to get better, this is what you have to do.”

Since then, she has had no other offers, Slaney said.

“People know where I stand. I have made that very clear.”