Oct. 5 �?? Despite years of denying that she took steroids, Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones will plead guilty to lying to federal agents about steroid use on Friday. The BBC reports that Jones now admits that she used a steroid known as �??the clear�?? for two years starting in 1999. That makes it likely her 2000 Olympic medals will be taken away. In Sydney, the track and field athlete won three gold medals and two bronzes for events in the 100 meters, the 200, the 4x400 relay, the long jump and the 4x100 relay.
Rumors about Jones and steroids have been circulating for years. Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, who competed against Jones in the 2000 Summer Games, told The Age that even before the competition started there was speculation about it. It was fed by a change in her appearance and the fact that her husband at the time, C.J Hunter, tested positive.
Jones was involved with other people who were connected to steroid use. Trevor Graham and Charlie Francis coached her. Graham has trained a number of athletes who tested positive, and in 2006 the U.S. Olympic Committee banned him from its training facilities. Francis admitted to giving steroids to sprinter Ben Johnson.
In 2004, the International Olympic Committee started an investigation into possible steroid use by Jones based off claims by Victor Conte, head of BALCO. In an interview on ABC�??s �??20/20,�?? Conte said that he had personally given her five illegal performance enhancers, made by his company, around the time of the Sydney Games.
In 2006, Jone�??s �??A�?? sample tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO) at the USA Track and Field Championships. However, a test run on her �??B�?? sample turned up negative, clearing her from the suspicion of doping. The Washington Post reported on the story.
In a letter, parts of which showed up in a Washington Post article on Wednesday, Jones apologized to her family and friends for �??all of this [the drug use]. I am sorry for disappointing you all in so many ways.�?? She also said that Trevor Graham gave her the steroid, which she thought was flaxseed oil.
For lying to a federal agent she could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. However, the Post article said she expected no more than a six-month jail sentence. FLAX SEED OIL? LMFAO!!!
