By John Erardi
Enquirer staff writer

On the eve of the Olympic Games in Athens - four years after he won an Olympic silver medal in Sydney, Australia - Cincinnati boxer Ricardo Williams Jr. was indicted on charges accusing him of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, federal authorities said Thursday. Two other men also were indicted.

"Ric's on his way back to Cincinnati to turn himself in," said his father and trainer, Ricardo Williams Sr. "He's told me that he is innocent of the charges, and that he will turn himself in Monday. He isn't the type of person to run; we aren't the type of people to run."

Williams Sr. said his son has been training in Houston and Dallas for the past month.

"He wanted to get away from the street and away from Cincinnati for a while," his father said. "He was training hard and getting ready for a fight at the end of September. This (the indictment) took the whole family by surprise. We are as stunned as everybody else by it."

Dorian Broadnax, 26, of Cincinnati, and Marshall F. Martinez, 23, a Californian, were the other men indicted. They were arrested last week in Cincinnati.

Authorities accuse the two of trying to receive a package containing five kilograms of cocaine when they were arrested.

The indictment, returned Tuesday in Dayton, accuses the men of being involved in cocaine smuggling. Each charge carries a prison sentence of 10 years to life.

Federal authorities said Williams remains a fugitive.

Williams' attorney, Kenneth L. Lawson, said his client is not a fugitive.

"The firm has arranged to have Mr. Williams, a respected Cincinnati native, voluntarily surrender himself to law enforcement authorities on Monday," Lawson said in a statement. "Mr. Williams will plead not guilty to all charges. We expect the justice system to vindicate this young man."

Four years ago, Williams, a flashy, fast-fisted 139-pounder with dancing feet, wowed the Olympic crowds with his semifinal slugfest win over Cuban Diogenes Luna. Williams narrowly lost the gold to Uzbekistan fighter Muhammad Abdullaev, and many ringside observers felt he was robbed.

Williams, 23, was not as successful as a pro, compiling an 11-2 record.

He signed a sizeable contract coming out of the Olympics and got off to a fast start (8-0, five knockouts). But he was surprised by Juan Valenzuela in another slugfest in Las Vegas early last year, and that seemed to start a downward slide. Williams fought gamely, throwing a lot of punches but also getting hit a lot. He couldn't daze Valenzuela despite hitting him flush with everything he had. Critics said he wasn't in proper shape, and it showed at the end of the fight.

Then he lost again in Cincinnati in March to Manny Galloway in a bout Williams Sr. called "a set-up ... a Columbus fighter with a Columbus judge and a Columbus referee."

"Ric has been working hard to make a comeback," said Williams Sr. "Now this. We're hoping it isn't as serious as it sounds. It's a big shock to everybody."

The Associated Press contributed.