So far, names of athletes have been missing from the 42-count, 31-page indictment brought by U.S. Attorney John Ashcroft.

The indictment and affidavits are vague, such as, "A $7,350 check deposited on 9/8/2000, from the bank account of an elite track and field athlete and Olympic gold medal winner." Or another that reads: "A $6,200 check deposited on 2/29/2000, from the bank account of a current NFL player."

Many are asking why the government is protecting the athletes. According to the affidavit of Internal Revenue Service special agent Jeff Novitzky, everyone involved in the conspiracy, including athletes, knew what drugs the sports stars were receiving and were even given stories to hide their drug use.

Novitzky said he witnessed several Major League Baseball players and at least one National Football League player visiting the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) in Burlingame, Calif. He said the visits and other evidence suggested that, "these athletes are receiving injections of anabolic steroids or some other performance-enhancing substance in connection with these visits."

Those recently indicted by a federal grand jury in San Francisco for running a widespread drug distribution ring are Victor Conte Jr., president and chief executive officer of BALCO; James J. Valente, vice president of BALCO; former Olympic track coach Remi Korchemny; and trainer Greg Anderson.

"The biggest thing, having been a consultant to the Drug Enforcement Administration and talking to my buddies there and with the police: When people get arrested, they'll give up their mother," said Penn State professor Charles Yesalis, an expert on steroids. "I can't see these four guys falling on grenades to protect big-time sports stars. I can't see Ashcroft putting himself and the president's neck on the line unless they have a whole bunch of aces up their sleeves."

Tony West, a former assistant U.S. Attorney in San Francisco, said athletes' names were left out so the government could protect their case. He said the names would likely become public during the trial or in the case's aftermath.

"If you're the government, you don't want to show your entire hand up front," said West. "It's more that you're protecting that person's status to testify as an effective witness at trial instead of protecting them from adverse publicity."

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