Olympics Fallout from BALCO drugs scandalMarion Jones, the world's greatest female runner, was last night fighting to save her career after the man at the centre of the biggest sports doping scandal told President George Bush he was prepared to provide information that would ensure the US sends a clean team to this year's Athens Olympics.
Lawyers for Victor Conte, the founder and owner of the San Francisco-based Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), who is one of four men charged with being involved in a conspiracy to distribute banned steroids to elite athletes, said in a letter to President Bush that he wanted to help the US avoid "the shame of being branded a country of 'cheaters' ".
Jones, winner of a record five Olympic medals, including three golds in Sydney in 2000, called for a public hearing to clear her name.
The Californian, winner of the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4x400 metres relay in Sydney and a bronze medallist in the long jump and 4x100 metres, has been at the centre of speculation for several months that she received banned performance-enhancing drugs from Conte.
His lawyer, Robert Holley, said in a letter to Bush that in return for a pledge that he would not be jailed, his client would share compelling information with prosecutors.
"The world will definitely be listening," Holley wrote. "If we fail to do so, and the information about our failure is later made public, after the Olympic medals are given out, the results could be disastrous."
Jones has received a letter from the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) seeking more information. Among USADA's evidence against Jones is a cheque from her bank account to BALCO and a 2001 calendar containing the initials MJ that appear to document a drug programme.
"I have never, ever failed a drug test," she said at a press conference in San Francisco last night. "USADA has no information that I have ever failed a test because simply I have never failed a test.
"I am more than happy to answer every question, but I am not going to engage in the United States Anti-Doping Agency's secret kangaroo court. I will answer questions in a public forum that will be open for the entire world to see, hear and evaluate."
Jones' partner, Tim Montgomery, the world 100 metres record holder, is one of several American athletes who have received a letter from USADA alleging doping violations.
Dick Pound, of the World Anti-Doping Agency said: "You've got to be very careful leaping to guilt by association, but there's an awful lot of smoke there."
Jones' former husband and coach, CJ Hunter, tested positive four times for steroids in 2000.
Jones repeatedly stressed that she had passed more than 160 drug tests and had never asked for, or accepted, any illegal supplements from BALCO.
"I have accomplished what I have accomplished because of my God-given abilities and hard work," she said. "The truth is my friend and transparency my ally in this matter."
She said that USADA should have cleared her name a long time ago, and added she still planned to enter next month's US Olympic trials.
In his letter to Bush, Holley said his client "will answer all questions from the United States Department of Justice, the United States Olympic Committee, and the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
"In return, Mr Conte asks that he not be forced to plead guilty to money laundering (a crime which he insists he did not commit) and that he be guaranteed a sentence of straight probation for both he and Mr Valente," referring to Conte's deputy James Valente.
Asked if it was disingenuous for a man accused of contributing to the steroid problem to offer to help root out doping in sport, Holley replied: "Disingenuous, whatever. It's a way to get it fixed."
