updated 3:16 p.m. ET June 15, 2004

NEW YORK - Federal investigators interviewed the former coach of Olympic champion Marion Jones, the New York Times reported Saturday night on its Web site, but it was unclear whether he told them anything about Jones.

The Times, quoting an anonymous source involved in the investigation, said Trevor Graham met this past week in Raleigh, N.C., with a federal investigator and that Graham was asked about Jones. But the newspaper said it was not known what Graham told the federal agent.

On Friday, Jones’ former husband — former world champion shot putter C.J. Hunter — released a statement saying he was cooperating with law enforcement authorities. It was unclear whether Hunter talked to agents about Jones.

Hunter, a former world champion shot putter, tested positive for steroids four times in 2000, when he was married to Jones.

Jones met with U.S. Anti-Doping Agency officials last month to discuss possible drug evidence against her, and received a letter from the agency this week asking follow-up questions. On Friday, she asked that her grand jury testimony in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid distribution case be released to her so she could pass it on to the USADA.

Jones won an unprecedented five track medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and has hinted she might try to match that mark at the Athens Games. She repeatedly has denied using performance-enhancing drugs and has vowed to fight any USADA charges.

She was one of several dozen athletes who gave secret testimony last fall before a grand jury that ultimately indicted four men for distributing steroids to top athletes.

The USADA probe of Jones and other athletes is based on documents from the grand jury investigation that were subpoenaed by a Senate committee and then turned over to the USADA.

The Washington Post reported on its Web site Saturday night that the USADA has begun to argue it can use a less-stringent burden of proof in the arbitration of cases against athletes accused of doping.

The Post, quoting a USADA memorandum seen by the newspaper, said the agency was considering dropping the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard applied in U.S. criminal cases and instead using a lesser standard of “comfortable satisfaction of the ... hearing body.”

Athletes accused of doping by USADA have the right to request an arbitration hearing after being accused of breaking drug rules.

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