ATHLETICS - BALCO scandal: Marion Jones's chance of being at the Olympics in Athens in August looks to be diminishing as United States officials continue to investigate her alleged links with the BALCO laboratory in a scandal that is overshadowing the build-up to the games.
Lawyers for the Californian, winner of a record five medals in Sydney four years ago, said yesterday they had received a letter from the US Anti-Doping Agency. It came on the same day that Jones's partner, the 100 metres world record holder Tim Montgomery, and several other leading American athletes were warned by USADA that they face suspensions that could keep them out of the Olympics.
Jones's letter does not accuse her of any specific violations but seeks answers to follow-up questions to a meeting held last month between her and her lawyers with USADA officials and their legal team.
The evidence presented then included a folder titled "Marion Jones" that, according to the San Jose Mercury News, contained numbered steroid-test results, calendar pages, a ledger and a Jones cheque made out to BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative) and apparently signed by her former husband, the 1999 world shot-put champion CJ Hunter. News broke during the 2000 Olympics that Hunter failed tests for steroids.
Jones's lawyer, Joseph Burton, has described the evidence as "unconvincing". He said: "Marion has passed every drug test she has been given. It is time for USADA to be fair and recognise that she has accomplished what she has accomplished because of her God-given talents and hard work."
Jones and Montgomery have denied using any performance-enhancing drugs and Jones has promised court action if an attempt is made to punish her without her having given a positive test.
Investigators believe Balco is the source of the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) which is at the centre of a worldwide drug scandal. Balco's founder and owner Victor Conte has been charged with illegally supplying steroids to 27 sportsmen and women, including baseball players and American footballers.
Kelli White, who won the 100 metres and 200 metres at the world championships in Paris last year, succeeding Jones, has agreed to a two-year ban based on evidence presented to her. As part of a deal White agreed to serve as a witness for USADA.
If Jones does legally challenge any decision to prevent her competing in Athens, the International Association of Athletics Federations and the International Olympic Committee may still bar her from the Games.
Dick Pound, the World Anti-Doping Agency president, said he anticipated that, if allegations against any athletes were not resolved by August 13th, the day the Games open, the IOC would rule those athletes ineligible even if court cases were ongoing.
The cases are unique because USADA is working towards suspending athletes for drug violations based on evidence other than a positive test. Though the process is unprecedented, the protocol will be the same as for a positive test.
Other athletes who have been warned they are facing bans include Chryste Gaines, winner of two Olympic medals in the 4x100 metres and the world's number two ranked female sprinter behind White last year.
Like White, Gaines is coached by the Ukrainian-born Remi Korchemny, another of whose charges, Britain's Dwain Chambers, was found guilty of using THG and is now serving a two-year ban. The other athletes to have received letters are the Olympic 400 metres silver medallist Alvin Harrison and the 2003 world indoor 200 metres champion Michelle Collins.
USADA has also contacted the Ukrainian sprinter Zhanna Block. Block, who lives and trains in the US, surprised Jones in the 100 metres final at the 2001 world championships when she ended her 54-race unbeaten record. USADA, has no jurisdiction to suspend her, which must be left to the IAAF.
The lengthy letters apparently included dozens of pages of attachments that describe the potential charges citing, at least in some cases, evidence of use of a host of banned drugs including testosterone, norbolethone, THG, trenbolone, modafinil and erythropoietin (EPO).
The athletes have been given 10 days to respond and USADA wants the matters cleared up before the US Olympic trials on July 9th.
Guardian Service
ALSO ACCUSED
Chryste Gaines
Aged 33. Member of the 1996 Olympic 4x100m gold medal relay team, and won bronze at same event in 2000. Tested positive for modafinil at last year's US trials. Coached by Remni Korchemni, one of four men, including Victor Conte, indicted by a federal grand jury investigating BALCO.
Alvin Harrison
Aged 30. Olympic 400m silver medalist in 2000, behind Michael Johnson. A 4x100 metre relay medalist at the 1996 and 2000 games. A hip injury kept him out of competition in 2001, and his return to form in 2002 was followed by a poor season last year.
Michell Collins
Aged 33. World indoor and US indoor champion at 200m in 2003, after a switch from 400m event. A hamstring injury prevented her from competing outdoors. A 1993 World Championships 4x400 gold medalist and a World Outdoor 4x400 silver medalist in 1999.
