Born in Gaffney, South Carolina, Montgomery was initially a basketball and football player prior to trying out for track. Montgomery studied at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, and transferred to Norfolk State University in 1994. Located in the Hampton Roads area of the Virginia port city ofNorfolk, Norfolk State was known for its strong track program. While in school, he competed in several junior track events, and did well in the sprint and relay events. Montgomery did not qualify for the 100 meters at the 1996 Summer Olympics, but he did compete in Atlanta in the heats of the 4 × 100-meter relay team that eventually finished second behind Canada. He qualified for his first major international tournament in 1997, and won the bronze medal at those World Championships, finishing third behind Maurice Greene. Two years later, Montgomery came in sixth in the individual final, but did win a gold medal with the United States relay team. Montgomery did not qualify for the individual 100 meters at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, though he again ran as an alternate in the heats of the relay event. In the final, the United States won the gold medal. Montgomery broke Greene's 100-meter world record by 0.01 seconds in September 2002. With a maximum-allowable tailwind of, Montgomery posted a time of 9.78 seconds. This record was later nullified because of doping.
Steroid scandal and retirement
Montgomery did not qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics, finishing seventh in the final of the United States Olympic trials. Before the trials, however, he was charged with using illegal performance-enhancing drugs by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. While he has not returned a positive drug test, according to press reports he testified to the agency that he, along with a number of other prominent athletes, obtained steroids and human growth hormone from BALCO, a laboratory near San Francisco. The USADA sought a four-year suspension on Montgomery, who appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On December 13, 2005, CAS found Montgomery guilty and imposed a two-year ban. On top of the ban, all of Montgomery's results and awards since March 31, 2001, including his former world record, were also stripped. After the ban was made public, Montgomery announced his retirement. The investigation also implicated his former partner Marion Jones, winner of the women's 100 meters at the 2000 Sydney Games. On November 24, 2008, Montgomery admitted to taking testosterone and human growth hormone before the Sydney Games 4 × 100-meter relay, in which he helped claim the gold medal. After the admission an International Olympic Committee spokesperson said the committee would look into the matter as part of its open file on the BALCO investigation, but as of 2019 the United States team continues to be officially listed as the winner of the event and no action has been taken against teammates Jon Drummond, Bernard Williams, Brian Lewis, Maurice Greene, and Kenny Brokenburr.
Money laundering charge
In April 2006, Montgomery was indicted and arrested on fraud charges for his alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme. He was accused of depositing three bogus checks totaling $775,000. Montgomery allegedly received $20,000 for his participation. His former coach, Steve Riddick, was also a defendant in the case. Riddick served a prison term of five years and three months. Marion Jones served a six-month prison term for lying to investigators about the check-fraud scam. Montgomery pleaded guilty to the charges on April 9, 2007. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison on May 16, 2008.
Heroin arrest
On May 1, 2008, an indictment was unsealed that accused Montgomery of dealing more than 100 grams of heroin in the Hampton Roads area over the previous year, according to the Virginian-Pilot, the daily newspaper in Virginia Beach. Montgomery told the newspaper he knew nothing of the accusations and that his arrest was a "total surprise." In October 2008, Montgomery was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.
