Skip navigation

Track officials set to strip Marion Jones' medals

International Olympic Committee could make decision by end of year

MSNBC video
Jones: 'I have betrayed your trust'
Oct. 5: An emotional Marion Jones says, "I have let my country down," after pleading guilty to lying to federal investigators when she denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

The IOC also could strip the medals won by those who ran with Jones in the Sydney relays. That would include bronze medalists Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards, Nanceen Perry and alternate Passion Richardson in the 400 relay; gold medalists Jearl Miles-Clark, Monique Henderson, La Tasha Colander-Richardson and alternate Andrea Anderson ran in the 1,600 relay.

“If the reports are accurate and if she does in fact acknowledge steroid use at the Sydney Olympic Games then that’s a good thing,” Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates said. “But it’s still very, very disappointing for all of the athletes that competed against her. ... I don’t think an acknowledgment now will ever right the injustice for those other ladies.”

“I would hope the medals would be taken away,” he said.

The IAAF said it was waiting for official notification from USADA setting out the details of Jones’ reported admission. The IAAF could strip Jones of all her medals and results from the world championships and other events from that time.

“Our rules are clear,” Davies said.

Jones won a gold (100 meters) and bronze (long jump) at the 1999 worlds in Seville, Spain, and two gold (200 and 400 relay) and a silver (100) at the 2001 championships in Edmonton.

Kansas City Royals v Boston Red Sox
Getty Images
The Week in Sports Pictures

The nation grieved for those hurt, killed and affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. After one of the suspects was caught on Friday — following a day-long lockdown and manhunt — sports returned to Boston over the weekend.

Under IAAF rules, athletes busted for doping also can be asked to pay back prize money and appearance fees. It’s unclear whether this would be applied to Jones, who would have earned millions in prizes, bonuses and fees from meets all over the world, including a share of the $1 million Golden League jackpot in 2001 and 2002.

British sprinter Dwain Chambers, who admitted using designer steroid THG, had to pay back a reported $230,615 before he was allowed to return to competition after a two-year ban.

What would happen to the U.S. relay team medals won by Jones is also uncertain.

After a long legal case, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in 2005 that only Jerome Young should be stripped of the gold medal won by the United States in the 1,600 relay in Sydney.

The IOC, IAAF and World Anti-Doping Agency had pushed for the entire team — including Michael Johnson — to be stripped of the victory. Young tested positive for steroids in 1999 but was cleared by a U.S. panel on appeal and allowed to compete in Sydney. He ran in the preliminaries but not the final.

© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


< Prev | 1 | 2

advertisement
More news
Image: TENNIS-ITA-ATP-WTA
AFP - Getty Images
Djokovic crumbles in Rome

Czech Tomas Berdych snapped a run of 11 consecutive defeats by world number one Novak Djokovic to reach the semi-finals of the Rome Masters before Rafa Nadal was stretched to the limit against David Ferrer on Friday.

UFC suspends Nate Diaz for tweeting gay slur

UFC lightweight Nate Diaz has been suspended for using a gay slur in a tweet about fighter Bryan Caraway.

Slide show
The Week in Sports Pictures
The nation grieved for those hurt, killed and affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. After one of the suspects was caught on Friday — following a day-long lockdown and manhunt — sports returned to Boston over the weekend.

more photos

Special feature
"American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity" Met Gala - Arrivals
When athletes and celebs get together
A look at the many links between sports and Hollywood stars.

NBCSports.com