Track star Marion Jones pleads guilty to lying to federal investigators about steroid use

[wicket]

Wish I could say I was surprised. She's probably going to lose her 5 Olympic medals.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-jones-dopingrun&prov=ap&type=lgns">LINK

For years, Marion Jones angrily denied using steroids. On Friday, she admitted it was all a lie.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators when she denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

It was a stunning fall from grace for Jones, once the most celebrated female athlete in the world. She captivated the country with the audacious goal of winning five gold medals at the Sydney Olympics. Though she fell short -- three golds but two bronzes -- her charm and winsome smile made her a star.

Seven years later, she is broke, her reputation is ruined and she is looking at prison time. And she will likely lose those five medals she won in 2000.

Dressed in a dark suit and pink shirt, Jones was somber when she arrived at U.S. District Court in Westchester County with her mother and her attorney, biting her lower lip as reporters and cameras swarmed her. Her mother stumbled at one point but got up and accompanied her daughter inside, where she was fingerprinted and booked before the hearing.

Jones recently sent family and close friends a letter in which she acknowledged using steroids before the Sydney Games, The Washington Post reported Thursday. She said she took "the clear" for two years, beginning in 1999, and that she got it from former coach Trevor Graham, who told her it was flaxseed oil, the Post reported.

"I want to apologize for all of this," the Post reported Jones saying in her letter, quoting a person who received a copy and read it to the paper. "I am sorry for disappointing you all in so many ways."

[KitchenWitch]

1. I am so pissed at myself for having believed her.

x(

[PassingFair]

8. I didn't believe her for a second...

Puhleeze!

[trof]

2. This ranks extremely low on my

things-I'm-concerned-about list.

[trof]

3. Oh shit. It's the LEAD on CBS evening news.

Jee-Zuss
:-(

Oh god, AND on NBC.
NOGAS!!!
NObody. Gives. A. Shit.

[Sukie1941]

4. Why bother watching the Olympics anymore?

Marion Jones had YEARS and YEARS to confess. She waited until she didn't have any choices left.

Marion Jones had it ALL in her life, beauty, fame, family, friends, money.

She blew it all.

WHY? I really really don't get it.

I have been an honest woman all of my life, and I have little to show for it. Just having enough money for groceries each month is problematic.

[Debi]

5. She's a POS in my book

Glad she admits it NOW, but what about the people who got the silver medals (or fourth place) at the Sydney Olympics? What about the folks who SHOULD have gotten the endorsement contracts but didn't b/c she was the medal winner? She should not only have to do jail time but should have to give back all the $$ she earned (and the interest earned on the money) from her success in track and field (success by CHEATING AND TELLING LIES FOR A DECADE) :grr:

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Yet another reason for why sports is utterly irrelevant and a waste of time to care about.

[femmocrat]

7. I'm watching her as I type... oh, boo-hoo.

[Danger Mouse]

9. another dirty cheater.

so when is bonds going to own up to it?

[pokerfan]

10. Everyone cheats

so it seems.

[regnaD kciN]

11. Look on the bright side, "Mrs. Jones"...

...there's always bicycle racing. :evilgrin: