Carlsbad

A British Olympic medalist accused of running a nationwide steroid smuggling and distribution ring pleaded innocent Tuesday to dozens of charges in the case.

David Jenkins, the anchor of Britain’s silver-medal winning 1,600-meter relay team in 1972 and now a Carlsbad resident, appeared before U.S. District Judge J. Lawrence Irving. Jenkins, who was arrested April 28 on a steroid smuggling charge, is being held without bail at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego.

He was arraigned on a superseding indictment, which contained the additional charges.

The alleged ring, which smuggled and sold the illegal muscle-building drugs since at least January, 1986, is believed by authorities to have controlled 70% of the U.S. black market in steroids. Steroids are sold only by prescription in the United States.

Jenkins, 35, is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to collect credit by extortionate means, and various charges involving the manufacture, possession, importation and distribution of anabolic steroids.

Four other defendants in the case also appeared before Irving, three of whom are free on bail.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Phil Halpern told Irving that 23 of 34 people charged in the indictment unsealed last Thursday have been arrested throughout the United States, and three more have made arrangements to surrender.