ATHLETICS/ Olympic Trials: After months of lawyers' bluster, investigations by the doping police and shrill threats, the only blame for Marion Jones's failure to defend her Olympic 100 metres title can be laid at her own two feet.
Jones ceded her claim to be the world's fastest woman and lost the chance to defend the shorter sprint title in Athens when she failed to make it through the United States Olympic trials over the weekend, finishing fifth in a field of her peers from which only the first three qualified.
Jones, who has been investigated by the United States Anti-Doping Agency over allegations that she was supplied with performance-enhancing drugs by her former nutritionist Victor Conte, still has two chances to travel to the Greek capital.
She will attempt to get there via the 200 metres and long jump, beginning tonight, although on the basis of her lacklustre showing in the 100 metres, qualification for either event appears no longer the certainty it once was.
For the woman who bestrode the Sydney games four years ago, such humiliation in her favourite event amounted to a spectacular fall from grace, regardless of the pressures that surround her.
Minutes after finishing the race won by her former training partner LaTasha Colander, who clocked 10.97 seconds, the thrice Olympic gold medallist was escorted through a throng of reporters and cameras, saying only: "When I talk to you guys, you have something negative to say. When I don't talk, you have something negative to say. So I'd much rather not talk, and spend time with my son."
She did add: "I got beat by some very talented women. Case closed."
Out on the track the 28-year-old's feet did even less talking. After breezing through the semi-finals earlier on Saturday, she started the final quickly, but struggled over the second half of the race and seemed shocked as half the field swept past.
Besides Colander, the US will be represented in Athens by the world champion, Torri Edwards, and Lauryn Williams. Gail Devers, another former 100 metres Olympic champion, was fourth.
Under US Track and Field's "leave your c.v. at the door" qualification system, only the top three in each event are sent to the Olympics - no excuses, no exceptions; even for Jones, the most recognisable track athlete in the United States.
As some consolation to Jones, Tim Montgomery, her partner and the father of her one-year-old son, made it through to the semi-finals of the men's 100 metres, in which he holds the world record.
With long-jump qualification due to begin tonight, Jones still has a chance to restore her standing but that 100 metres display will have done little to stem the tide of controversy whirling around her and six other athletes competing here over their dealings with the San Francisco-based Balco laboratory.
Four of the six - Montgomery, Michelle Collins, Alvin Harrison and Chryste Gaines - could face life bans after being accused by US authorities of using steroids, although none of them has actually failed a drugs test. The charges have been made on the basis of evidence retrieved during a criminal investigation into Balco - what USADA has described as "non-analytical positives".
Montgomery, who entered the arena for his 100 metres heat on Saturday afternoon to a mix of applause and boos from the crowd, is planning to lodge an appeal with the International Court of Arbitration for Sport. Gaines is also planning an appeal, although her attempt to get to Athens foundered after she failed to even make it to the 100 metres final.
Victor Conte, who founded Balco, and three other men are facing a range of criminal charges relating to the illegal supply of steroids to dozens of athletes.
Jones, who once employed Conte as her nutritionist, has not been formally charged by USADA and has denied using illegal drugs.
Guardian Service
