Marion Jones' Results Annulled on Doping
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been infatuated with Marion Jones and her fresh-faced, all-American talent ever since I first saw her run back in 1997, in the World Championships, in Athens, winning the 100 meters. But it was in the 2000 Olympics, in Sydney, that she totally won me over. What a star. No doubt about it.
Jones won gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and the 1600 meter relay in Sydney, and bronzes in the 400 relay and long jump. At the 2001 world championships, she won the 200 and the silver in the 100.
Now the star has fallen, and Marion Jones' career has ended in disgrace.
DOPING.
Performance Enhancing Drugs.
Steroids.
It's just hard to believe. Why?
All I remember in Sydney is her husband, Track Coach C.J. Hunter, pressuring her, pushing her, prodding her. I haven't heard it said, but I will say it, could he have been the influence that started it all?
I know that's no excuse. Not unless he held her down everyday and forced the drugs into her body. But I just find it hard to believe she would have done it on her own.
What a waste.
Jones has now returned her five Olympic medals and agreed to forfeit all results dating to Sept. 1, 2000. But it's still up to the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and International Olympic Committee to change the record books and revise the medals.
The IAAF said Jones was disqualified from all competitions since Sept. 1, 2000, with all results erased. That includes all relays, not just individual events.
The IAAF said Marion Jones must return all awards, medals, money from that period, and that she can't compete again unless she pays back approximately $700,000.
Athletes who are eventually upgraded will receive a share of Jones' prize money. It isn't clear if they will get the money since Jones says she is broke.
Even tough Jones is retired, she is officially suspended until Oct. 7, 2009. Jones would have to give the IAAF 12 months notice if she was going to return to competition after the ban.
Click here to read an MSNBC
Article on Marion Jones ◄
It just makes me "Unglued" that athletes feel the need to use these drugs. I understand Olympic athletes have a small window to get into the competition. But there used to be such pride in the fact that the U.S. Athletes in the Olympics were "clean."
What are your feelings on Marion Jones and her fall from use of PED and Steroids?
The possibility that she may go to prison?
Marion Jones, who won five medals at the Sydney Olympics, says she took the steroid known as "the clear" for two years beginning in 1999, according to a letter Jones sent to close family and friends. (Arne Dedert - AFP)
