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Re: The Rise and Fall of Marion Jones
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Track and field superstar Marion Jones stood before an army of television cameras last Friday and pled guilty in U.S. District Court in White Plains, N.Y., to lying to federal investigators when she denied that she had used performance enhancing drugs.
Jones admitted to taking steroids from September 2000 to July 2001 and said she was told by former coach Trevor Graham that she was taking flaxseed oil when it was actually the steroid THG. Jones claimed she didn't realize she was taking performance-enhancing drugs until November of 2003.
The darling of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia , Jones won five medals, three gold and two bronze. Now, she is reportedly broke, disgraced, and could be facing prison time.
What makes Jones' admission so difficult for everyone who believed she was clean was the passion and vehemence with which she proclaimed her innocence, even going so far as to file a lawsuit against Victor Conte and the infamous BALCO laboratory.
"I have never, ever used performance enhancing drugs," Jones said defiantly in 2004 in her grand jury testimony in the BALCO investigation. Last year, Jones had a urine sample test positive for EPO, but her backup sample came up negative. But claiming her conscience was bothering her, Jones finally told the truth. Or at least, some of it.
"It's with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust. I have been dishonest, and you have the right to be angry with me. I have let my family down. I have let my country down, and I have let myself down," a teary eyes Jones said after her hearing, at which point she also announced her retirement.
But the most disturbing thing about Jones' admission of guilt is that she still has yet to take full responsibility for her actions. Throughout her testimony and her subsequent statements, Jones still lays much of the blame at the feet of Graham, using the oh-so-tired excuse that she didn't "knowingly" take performance enhancing drugs. That she trusted her coach.
So, how many world class athletes does this make now who are simply popping pills, spreading on the cream, putting the clear underneath their tongues and sticking themselves with needles that claim to have no clue what they are taking? Forgive me, but I've lost count.
I believe I first heard this saying sometime during Watergate (and by the way, when are we going to stop sticking the word "gate" at the end of every scandal? Enough already, but I digress) that it's not the crime, it's the cover up.
At this point, it would almost be a refreshing novelty to see an athlete who gets caught cheating simply say, "I knew what I was taking. I take full responsibility for what I did."
I'm also not as impressed as some of my colleagues who are applauding Jones for returning her medals, apologizing to her competitors, and asking to have her records vacated. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was going to do that anyway.
It's often been said that this is a country that believes in forgiveness and second chances, especially in the world of sports. We'll forgive almost anything if it's accompanied by honesty, contrition and taking full responsibility for your actions.
I've yet to hear Jones say that despite what Graham may have told her, she knew she was taking steroids, instead of expecting us to believe she spent years thinking it was flaxseed oil.
If Jones thinks this mess she's in is more Trevor Graham's fault than hers, then she's still lying, both to herself and to us.
Re: The Rise and Fall of Marion Jones
Marion Jones is probably the saddest and worst 'fall from grace' story in sports history. She wasn't a female athlete. She was a machine. Could've been a basketball star, but decided to go into track and grabbed up a ton of awards and medals. Multi million dollar endorsement deals soon followed. Nothing or no one could stop her, and she was without a doubt one of the greatest athletes, male or female, in history.
I remember watching her compete in the 90's, and I had this feeling she would end up being the first woman to try out for the NFL. It never happened of course, but she had this aura of invincibility about her to where you thought such things were possible.
Then a few years later, she is exposed as a fraud.
This article doesn't really go into it, but its almost comical that she was exposed only because of her taste in men. She not only dated then married them, but they were all athletes who eventually got caught using steroids. One husband even involved in some check scam, which she may do prison time for. Had she dated normal men, she likely never would have been caught. Anyways, no one suspected her of being a drug user until her first husband was caught doing it. The stigma stayed attached to her for years, until her house of cards finally crumbled this year and she had to admit she had been using steroids all these years.
Also, she is financially broke, and the chances of her ever becoming financially secure again are minimal. The only way she will probably ever get a decent chunk of change is if she poses for Playboy(which I'll buy).
She is clearly disgraced in sports for the rest of her life, and her place in history is now cemented.
This brings me to my question: Does she deserve a second chance? Obviously the drugs played a role in her athletic ability, but if she stayed clean, does she deserve another shot at glory? She could possibly get a lifetime ban from Track, but how about basketball? If she's still extremely fast, how about creating a huge amount of publicity by trying out for the NFL?
I know she brought this all on herself, but I actually feel sorry for her and think she does deserve another chance. I know I'm not being very impartial as I was always a fan of hers, but if other public figures get another chance, I don't see why Marion cant have that chance as well.
Re: The Rise and Fall of Marion Jones
MONTE CARLO, Monaco - Her career in disgrace and a prison sentence possibly looming, Marion Jones can longer even take solace in seeing her name beside her greatest feats in the record books.
What's more, track and field's governing body also wants Jones '” who insists she is broke '” to pay back about $700,000 of her winnings.
The International Association of Athletics Federation on Friday annulled all of her results dating to September 2000, including her Olympic and world championship titles, because of doping and told her to return her prize money from that period.
The organization also recommended that Jones' relay teammates be disqualified and lose their medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
A man who answered the phone at Jones' home in Austin, Texas, said she had no comment.
The IAAF council also upheld the two-year ban imposed on Jones by U.S. officials. She retired last month after pleading guilty to lying to federal investigators in 2003. Jones admitted she had taken the designer steroid 'the clear' from September 2000 to July 2001.
A man who answered the phone at Jones' home in Austin, Texas, said she had no comment.
Jones won gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 and the 1,600-meter relay in Sydney, as well as bronzes in the 400 relay and long jump. At the 2001 worlds, she won the 200 and the silver medal in the 100.
Jones has returned her five Olympic medals and agreed to forfeit all results dating to Sept. 1, 2000. But it's still up to the 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 added Jones must return all awards, medals and money from that period. IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said Jones can't compete again unless she pays back the approximate $700,000.
Athletes who are eventually upgraded stand to receive a share of Jones' prize money. However, it's uncertain whether they will ever get the money because Jones is said to be broke.
Even though Jones has retired, she is officially suspended until Oct. 7, 2009. Jones would have to give the IAAF 12 months' notice if she wants to return to competition after the ban, Davies said.
The IAAF did not take a position on whether Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou should be upgraded to the Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters. That will be up to the IOC, which has authority over Olympic medals.
'We recommend that (the) IOC take the final decision,' IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss said.
Thanou and fellow Greek runner Kostas Kenteris failed to show for drug tests on the eve of the 2004 Athens Games, claiming they were injured in a motorcycle accident and eventually pulled out. They were later banned for two years.
IOC president Jacques Rogge has said there will be no automatic upgrade, and that only 'clean' athletes will be moved up in the medals. The IOC is considering whether to leave the 100-meter winner's place vacant.
IAAF president Lamine Diack, who has branded Jones 'one of the biggest frauds in sporting history', was at the meeting in Monte Carlo but did not speak to reporters.
Pauline Davis-Thompson of the Bahamas was the silver medalist behind Jones in the 200 meters, while Tatiana Kotova of Russia was fourth in the long jump. They could now be awarded gold and bronze by the IOC.
Jearl Miles-Clark, Monique Hennagan, Tasha Colander-Richardson and Andrea Anderson won golds as part of the 1,600-meter relay in Sydney. Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards, Nanceen Perry and Passion Richardson were on the 400-meter relay team.
It's now up to the IOC to decide if Jamaica gets gold in the 1,600 relay and France bronze in the 400.
As for the 2001 worlds in Edmonton, Alberta, Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas moves up to gold in the 200, Latasha Jenkins of the United States to silver and Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands to bronze.
In the 100, won by Zhanna Block of Ukraine, Thanou would move from bronze to silver, and Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas from fourth to bronze.
'There is awareness of the situation for sure,' Davies said. 'But there is also the fact there is no reason we have at the moment why she (Thanou) shouldn't have the medal.'
Re: The Rise and Fall of Marion Jones
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. '” Marion Jones was sentenced Friday to six months in prison for lying about using steroids and a check-fraud scam, despite her plea that she not be separated from her two young children "even for a short period of time."
"I ask you to be as merciful as a human being can be," said Jones, who cried on her husband's shoulder after she was sentenced.
The disgraced former Olympic champion was ordered to surrender March 11 to begin her term.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas said he gave her the maximum under her plea deal to send a message to athletes who have abused drugs and overlooked the values of "hard work, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship."
"Athletes in society have an elevated status, they entertain, they inspire, and perhaps, most important, they serve as role models," Karas said.
Later Friday, Karas was to sentence Jones' former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, who was convicted in the check-fraud scam.
The 31-year-old Jones also was given two years' probation and supervised release, during which she will be required to perform 800 hours of community service.
The judge said this would take advantage of Jones' "eloquence, strength and her ability to work with kids."
It was her children that worried Jones most as she beseeched the judge for a lighter sentence, talking at length about her two boys, including the infant son she's still nursing.
"My passion in life has always been my family," Jones said. "I know the day is quickly approaching when my boys ask me about these current events. I intend to be honest and forthright ... and guide them into not making the same mistakes."
The sentence completes a stunning fall for the woman who was once the most celebrated female athlete in the world. She won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
After long denying she ever had used performance-enhancing drugs, Jones admitted last October she lied to federal investigators in November 2003, acknowledging she took the designer steroid "the clear" from September 2000 to July 2001. "The clear" has been linked to BALCO, the lab at the center of the steroids scandal in professional sports.
She also admitted lying about her knowledge of the involvement of Tim Montgomery, the father of her older son Monty, in a scheme to cash millions of dollars worth of stolen or forged checks. Montgomery and several others have been convicted in that scam.
After her guilty pleas last October, Jones made an apologetic and teary-eyed statement outside court, saying, "It's with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust."
"I have been dishonest, and you have the right to be angry with me," she added. "I have let (my family) down. I have let my country down, and I have let myself down. ... I want to ask for your forgiveness for my actions, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
Jones returned her Olympic medals '” golds in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 1,600-meter relay and bronzes in the long jump and 400-meter relay '” even before the International Olympic Committee ordered her to do so and wiped her results from the books.
Jones was among the many athletes who testified in 2003 before a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.
On the day she pleaded guilty, prosecutors said a 2003 search warrant at BALCO uncovered ledgers, purchases, doping calendars, and various blood-test results connected to Jones and former coach Trevor Graham.
She took EPO, human growth hormone and THG using drops and injections, according to the court documents that show use in 2000 and 2001.
Re: The Rise and Fall of Marion Jones
Jameslofton wrote:If she's still extremely fast, how about creating a huge amount of publicity by trying out for the NFL?
Put down the pipe.
Don't speak too soon. This chick needs money really bad. Track isn't really a viable option anymore, so she's gonna have to do something. She's still young enough to attempt it. She could easily go to the WNBA because she does have some basketball experience, but there's no money there.
Re: The Rise and Fall of Marion Jones
No, I feel pretty comfortable saying that Marion Jones, a 32 year old mom, will not be receiving any NFL offers. I don't think it's too soon to say that. Come on.
If Garth Brooks and Michael Jordan can try out for baseball, I think Marion can try out for the NFL or any other sport.
Its probably not happening, but don't be shocked if it does. This woman has been an athlete her whole life and now its all over. She had to sell her mother's house to pay legal fees for fucks sake. If you don't think this woman is going to be desperate after her jail sentence is over, you're blind.
Athletes have difficulty moving on with their lives when their career is over, and Marion is only in her 30s.
She will figure out a way to attempt an athletic comeback in some capacity. Its her only way to start making the kind of money she was accustomed to making.
She also needs to somehow rebuild her legacy. Being the first woman to play in a man's sport is a good place to start.
Re: The Rise and Fall of Marion Jones
If Garth Brooks and Michael Jordan can try out for baseball, I think Marion can try out for the NFL or any other sport.
Michael Jordan & Garth Brooks are bad examples. Brooks just paid his way to be able to hangout with a team in spring training. It wasn't a real tryout, but more of a super rich guy fulfilling a childhood fantasy. Jordan was told by the NBA to chill for a year because his gambling had gotten out of control & they didn't want to have to disgrace their biggest star in an investigation. So he played baseball for in season in the White Sox minor leagues. The same guy owns both the Sox & The Bulls. Again, hardly a fair comparison to Jones situation. Why would a men's league want an over the hill in(in athletic age) mom, who is a known liar & illegal substance abuser to be attached to their product. They wouldn't. I don't think you have any idea of the caliber of athlete's playing in the NFL if you think Marion Jones would last 10 minutes into the first practice. That was a ridiculous idea, as is the idea of Marion Jones just stepping into any of the big 3 men's professional leagues. Not going to happen.
