Marion Jones' rivals all positive

[injuryupdate]

As listed below - almost all of the main rivals of Marion Jones have now tested positive, making you wonder how you can compete in the 100m whilst clean. A bit like the Ben Johnson 1988 race where virtually every finalist subsequently tested positive at some stage.

What made Marion take wrong turn?
By Mike Hurst
August 23, 2006

MARION Jones is the most naturally gifted female sprinter the world has ever seen, so why would she take drugs?

I'm not an apologist for anyone on dope. Using banned performance-enhancing drugs to take someone else's prize is theft.

"America's Sweetheart" coming into the Sydney Olympics, where she won a record five medals including three gold, Jones is now facing suspension. She is being asked to explain why recombinant EPO (a synthetic version of the blood endurance drug erythropoietin) has found its way into her urine sample taken for testing at the US athletics championships in June.

"I was shocked when I was informed about the positive A-sample," Jones said in a statement yesterday. "I will have no further comment until the results of the B-sample are released."

Jones has always denied taking performance-enhancing substances and had never previously failed a doping test. The secondary B-sample is scheduled to be tested on September 6.

If the findings of the first test are confirmed, the matter would likely go to arbitration.

And if she loses Jones will receive at least a two-year ban which would probably end her controversial run in the sport.

To those who watched her scorch the New Orleans track as a lithe 15-year-old at the 1992 US Olympic team trials it is inconceivable that such a seemingly gifted girl would ever need "help".

I was there to see her qualify for the mighty US 4x100 metres relay squad.

She was also first reserve for the Barcelona Olympics individual 200 metres race. But her mother decided she was too young to go to the Games and the next time we heard of Jones was in 1994 when she ruled the court as a point guard guiding North Carolina to the US collegiate top division basketball title.

Why not? She was clearly the greatest young sprinter and now she had proven herself one of the greatest all-round sports talents.

In 1997 she returned to track competition, winning the 100 metres at the world championships. She could do anything. Why then drugs?

Who was taking advantage of Marion Jones? Or who could she have taken advantage of?

Who were her contemporaries?

Well, among them were the Ukraine's Zhanna Pintusevich-Block, Americans Kelli White, Torri Edwards, Michelle Collins and Chryste Gaines. All have won world championships and all but Block have been banned for doping.

Block, who defeated Jones to the 2001 world 100 metres title in Edmonton, was named in BALCO documents but no action was taken by US authorities against her.

Then there's Ekaterina Thanou, who took 100m silver behind Jones in the Sydney Games.

Thanou will be reinstated in December following a two-year ban for a doping infringement at the last Olympics in Athens.

Why would Marion Jones think she needed dope? If she can't win clean, who could?

Getting depressed? There must be a drug out there to fix that.

[jellybean]

The amazing thing is that she appears to have been caught through a positive test. (The B sample result has obviously not been published as yet).

Although it appears she is a naturally talented athlete, fairly or unfairly there has been overwhelming evidence over the years (guilt by association) that she was a drug cheat and not some wonder woman:

1. Convincing winner of women's 100m in Sydney against other women who were subsequently found to be cheats;
2. Her 2 former husbands were both busted for cheating.
3. Named in BALCO investigation but insufficient evidence to prosecute (not the first cheat that has escaped through that route, but investigative protocols and powers are rapidly improving).
4. Her former coach, Trevor Graham, has had 6 to 11 athletes (depending on which report you read) test positive for prohibited substances.

[Syd Uni sports clinic]

Victor Conte gave evidence in a hearing or investigation into BALCO, I think, that he saw her inject 11 illegal substances into her body at the one sitting, or something similarly outrageous. However, she denied this and the testimony wasn't enough to have her done for doping.

[jellybean]

Unbelievable! She has slipped through the net again. Jones has been cleared of doping. Haven't heard any other details as yet.

[jellybean]

But wait, there's more ...

Jones cleared of doping

Former triple-Olympic champion Marion Jones has been cleared of doping after her 'B' sample tested negative for the banned blood-boosting drug EPO.

Jones's initial sample had tested positive for erythropoietin at the US championships in Indianapolis in June. Had the second sample tested positive, the 30-year-old would have faced a two-year ban from the sport.

"I am absolutely ecstatic," Jones said in a statement issued by her lawyer.

"I have always maintained that I have never ever taken performance enhancing drugs, and I am pleased that a scientific process has now demonstrated that fact.

"I am anxious to get back on the track."

Howard Jacobs, the expert lawyer who represented Jones, was also pleased with the result.

"The scientific part of the testing protocols worked, but it is unfortunate that because of the 'leak' of the 'A' sample results, Marion was wrongfully accused of a doping violation and her reputation was unfairly questioned", Mr Jacobs said.

"The 'B' sample did not confirm the 'A' positive result and Marion is now free to compete", he continued.

Jones has repeatedly denied taking performance-enhancing substances and had never previously failed a doping test.

She won five Olympic medals at the 2000 Sydney Games, including golds in the 100 and 200 metres and 4x400 metres relay.

She had performed poorly since having a son with disgraced former 100 metres world record holder Tim Montgomery in 2003, but was making a comeback this year.

Jones won the US 100 metres championship in 11.10 seconds on June 23 and was first in several races in Europe this season.

She has three of the five fastest times in the world this year with a best of 10.91 seconds to rank second overall behind Jamaica's Sherone Simpson.

-Reuters

[injuryupdate]

The 'A' and 'B' samples are meant to be identical, the only difference is that the 'A' sample is analysed without the athlete being present, whereas after hearing this is positive, they can be present themselves or have a representative present when the 'B' sample gets opened and analysed.

The amazing thing is how the two samples differed!

[jellybean]

Call me cynical, but I'm wondering how much that cost!!

[injuryupdate]

Marion Jones (and perhaps Lance Armstrong) have clean records but with very few people out there respecting the so-called clean bill they have been given. They are doing sports though where everyone tries to dodge tax and the best tax evaders often win.

[jellybean]

and (to extend that analogy) so the rich get richer and the poor get poorer!!

[jellybean]

In response to the front page article ... a few comments:

1. Hooray! that MJ has finally been bought to justice (the sad thing is that she is only one of no doubt many, but at least she is/was a big fish!). However, it must be gutting to WADA that MJ’s Sydney 100m gold may go to Greek sprinter Thanou – the surprise package at Sydney, who subsequently received a two year sanction after evading doping control on several occasions in the lead up to Athens – out of the frying pan into the fire!. Hopefully the fact that she has subsequently also been sanctioned will mean that she is also denied the gold.

2. The tests MJ had in the lead up to Sydney were 7 or 8 years ago, testing and other anti-doping measures have improved significantly since then. Having said that, there is probably always going to be a race between drug manufacturers trying to stay ahead of the testers which is exactly why new measures such as the introduction of a wider range of anti-doping violations (you can now get busted for things such as failure to provide Athlete whereabouts information, possession, tampering with any part of doping control, refusing to provide a sample and trafficking as well as positive tests) have been introduced - more opportunities to catch cheats!

3. If the widespread rumours are true (and I have no doubt they are), drug tests probably have identified many more cheats in the past, unfortunately, however, corrupt officials may have prevented some positive test results ever seeing the light of day. This needs to be addressed to if sport really is to be cleaned up. [It was widely rumoured that Flo-Jo tested positive at the last meet she competed in but had the positive test overlooked in return for “going quietly”. She never competed again but paid the ultimate price a short while later. There were also extremely strong rumours of positive tests to very high profile track and field athletes (medallists) at both the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games. Again none saw the light of day and it was rumoured that a major sponsor bought the results].

[Nicholas]

Her admittance to using drugs to win medals at the 2000 Olympics, 7 years afterwards is going to cost her more than if it was right after the 2000 Olympics were over. She probably will be stripped of her medals and it will be harder to re-launch her career after she serves her suspension for using drugs (And there's also talk she might spend 6 months in jail). It is because then she will be older and her form might decline.