A U.S. judge postponed a bond hearing for former 100-meter world record holder Tim Montgomery on federal heroin distribution charges.

The hearing was originally scheduled for yesterday in U.S. District Court in Norfolk. It was rescheduled for today after Montgomery retained an attorney, who requested time to review the case.

The 33-year-old sprinter was arrested Wednesday on a sealed indictment accusing him of selling more than 100 grams of heroin in Virginia over the past year. Montgomery has been held in the Portsmouth city jail since his arrest.

The former athletics champion is to be sentenced May 16 in a New York-based check-fraud conspiracy. Montgomery pleaded guilty in that case, admitting he helped his former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, and others cash US$1.7 million in stolen and counterfeit cheque. He faces up to 46 months in prison.

Montgomery's former companion, Olympic champion Marion Jones, is serving a six-month prison term for lying to investigators about the check-fraud scam and doping.