Marion Jones

[CentreHice]

Admits Lying About Steroid Use

The question is: Who HASN'T on them for decades now?

Flaxseed oil....same alibi excuse reason Bonds gave when questioned.

Carl Lewis obviously had a better masking agent than did Ben Johnson.

The phrase I love from all these liars and cheats: "I didn't KNOWINGLY take steroids."

The IOC is considering taking her medals away.

Hopefully, Jones saved her bogus endorsement money. Could those companies sue her for fraud?

[Skilly]

What gets me is all that legal action she threatened (went through?) 2 years ago when the whole world knew she was on drugs for years. I hope they re-coup those costs too ... take her to the cleaners, OR threated her with jail time and costs and tell her to snitch on the whole American track team from the late 80's to the present that she knows about (and believe you me she knows .... I want Lewis indicted as well as Michael Johnson)

[CentreHice]

Dick Pound (as unfortunate a name as that is ) is a lot closer to the truth than Don Cherry would have us believe.

Skilly, here's an article from 2004, referring to her lawsuit against BALCO.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

There's no way in hell specimens like these athletes can do what they're doing without cheating. I was living in Germany when "Benoid" Johnson was busted.

The sculpted Linford Chirstie was also busted. And while he never admitted to using steroids himself, Carl Lewis cheated as well.

In the USA it takes years for this come out. They have a law that testing results cannot be made public; invasion of privacy or something like that; I really don't know what they call it. But, it prevents anyone from knowing what's going on with the athlete and it remains one of the most convenient laws in sports.

Anyway, looks good on her. You have to wonder about Flo Joe as well.

Cheers.

[Skilly]

disgruntled70shab said:

There's no way in hell specimens like these athletes can do what they're doing without cheating. I was living in Germany when "Benoid" Johnson was busted.

The sculpted Linford Chirstie was also busted. And while he never admitted to using steroids himself, Carl Lewis cheated as well.

In the USA it takes years for this come out. They have a law that testing results cannot be made public; invasion of privacy or something like that; I really don't know what they call it. But, it prevents anyone from knowing what's going on with the athlete and it remains one of the most convenient laws in sports.

Anyway, looks good on her. You have to wonder about Flo Joe as well.

Cheers.

I read an article a few years ago that was looking back at that Seoul 100m final ... the author surmised that at least 6 of the 8 in the final were definitely on steroids. Then it came out one by one that there was 4 definitely, and the only "big name" in that final that hasn't been caught and forced to admit it was Lewis. There is no doubt in my mind that he was on steroids and the only way he is going to get caught is if one of the "new blood" gets careless, gets caught, and someone sees the opportunity to shake up USTAF by giving them imunity to testify against the culture that has been going on since the 1984 LA Olympics.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

skilly said:

disgruntled70shab said:

There's no way in hell specimens like these athletes can do what they're doing without cheating. I was living in Germany when "Benoid" Johnson was busted.

The sculpted Linford Chirstie was also busted. And while he never admitted to using steroids himself, Carl Lewis cheated as well.

In the USA it takes years for this come out. They have a law that testing results cannot be made public; invasion of privacy or something like that; I really don't know what they call it. But, it prevents anyone from knowing what's going on with the athlete and it remains one of the most convenient laws in sports.

Anyway, looks good on her. You have to wonder about Flo Joe as well.

Cheers.

I read an article a few years ago that was looking back at that Seoul 100m final ... the author surmised that at least 6 of the 8 in the final were definitely on steroids. Then it came out one by one that there was 4 definitely, and the only "big name" in that final that hasn't been caught and forced to admit it was Lewis. There is no doubt in my mind that he was on steroids and the only way he is going to get caught is if one of the "new blood" gets careless, gets caught, and someone sees the opportunity to shake up USTAF by giving them imunity to testify against the culture that has been going on since the 1984 LA Olympics.

Even the guy who finished 8th in that final, Desi Williams of Canada, actually flew home early if I remember right. He, too, was apparently not so clean.

It's little wonder why our amateur athletes love competing in Europe and Asia. These people really embrace their athletics. This clip is from the Olympics mind you, but I remember watching athletics on TV in Germany and they simply pack their stadiums to capacity for every event. Seoul Olympic 100 m final

But, I also think I have an old McLean's magazine that details the whole Benoid fiasco. If I find it I'll try to post some material from it. Very well investigated article that details Johnson's personal doctor giving him something before the race, "... that really pumped him up."

And as you say, just about all of those runners were guilty that day.

Cheers.

[Skilly]

The dirtiest race in history Olympic 100m final, 1988

Carl Lewis was allowed to compete in the 1988 Olympics despite testing positive for banned performance-enhancing drugs because it would have been a disaster otherwise for the American team, according to his former team-mate Roger Kingdom, writes Duncan Mackay

Dr Wade Exum, former head of the United States anti-doping programme, has alleged that the man voted the greatest athlete of the 20th century was among more than 100 competitors, including 19 Olympic medallists, involved in a cover-up of drug use from 1988 to 2000.

Exum claims Lewis tested positive for stimulants during the 1988 US Olympic trials but had a 12-week suspension overturned by the United States Olympic Committee, allowing him two months later to win two gold medals in Seoul.

That included the 100m after Canada's Ben Johnson failed his drug test and Lewis was awarded the gold ahead of Britain's Linford Christie in a race one International Olympic Committee official yesterday described as "the dirtiest in history". He also won the long jump, part of his career tally of a record nine Olympic gold medals.

Lewis's lawyer Martin Singer claimed his client had taken the banned drug in a herbal remedy. "Carl did nothing wrong," said Singer. "There was never intent."

But Kingdom, the winner of the 110m hurdles in Seoul who later served on USA Track & Field's drug-hearing board, said athletes at the time received extensive warnings about being careful with supplements. "He should not have been allowed to compete, plain and simple," he said. "You can't plead ignorance; it didn't roll. Obviously it goes back to show you favouritism was involved.

"At the time Carl was Mr Track and Field and what a black eye it would have given the US not to have your top dog there."

Lewis was not the only 1988 gold medallist who escaped punishment. Joe DeLoach and Andre Phillips also failed tests at the US trials but travelled to Seoul and won gold medals in the 200m and 400m hurdles respectively.

Exum released more than 30,000 pages of documents which include showing Lewis tested positive for three stimulants found in cold medications: pseudoephedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine. Lewis's training partners DeLoach and Floyd Heard tested positive for the same combination of drugs, which some experts believe can mask more serious drugs such as anabolic steroids.

The IOC's medical commission chairman Arne Ljungqvist said the Exum documents "fit a pattern" of failure by the US to report on positive drug cases. It was reported last year that a US athlete tested positive for steroids in 1999 but was allowed to compete - and win an Olympic gold medal - in the 2000 games.

[Skilly]

Ben Johnson got caught .... BUT he was the only guy in that race to lose his medal.

Linford Christie's urine also contained metabolites of a banned substance after the race.

Carl Lewis has admitted to having tested positive three times in that years US trials.

Dennis Mitchell later found himself embroiled in a performance enhanced drug scandal.


That's four of the eight ... and like Dis said, Desi Williams hightailed it out of Korea awfully quick, so more than likely thats 5 of the 8 (just off the top of my head).


From Wikipedia:

At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Smith was involved in the most controversial Olympic 100 m final of all time and ended-up receiving the Bronze Medal. Ben Johnson of Canada crossed the line first, with Lewis second, Linford Christie of Great Britain third, and Smith fourth. But Johnson then tested positive anabolic steroids and was stripped of his Gold Medal. Smith was thus upgraded to the Bronze Medal position. The race has been called the dirtiest race in history, as Lewis later admitted to having tested positive three times in that years trials, and Christie's urine also contained metabolites of a banned substance after the race.

[CentreHice]

I hope this is just the tip of the iceberg in setting the record straight. What a vicious cycle...you know the competition is juicing....what do you do if all you need to do is juice as well to be right there or better? Money, fame...powerful aphrodisiacs. Too bad they wrap themselves in their flags and profess patriotism.

How many female East German swimmers could be nabbed to name but a few more? They had bigger shoulders than the Trans-Canada highway.

[Skilly]

They are reporting that Marion Jones gave back her medals from Athens .... now, did they upgrade 2nd, 3rd and 4th? And did she have any records that are now taken off the books?

Listening to American TV, they are all applauding her "sincerity" and forgiving her ... give me a break. She is sorry, sorry she got caught.

[CentreHice]

skilly said:

They are reporting that Marion Jones gave back her medals from Athens .... now, did they upgrade 2nd, 3rd and 4th? And did she have any records that are now taken off the books?

Listening to American TV, they are all applauding her "sincerity" and forgiving her ... give me a break. She is sorry, sorry she got caught.

Any bets on when she'll "find Jesus"?

[Disgruntled70sHab]

skilly said:

Listening to American TV, they are all applauding her "sincerity" and forgiving her ... give me a break. She is sorry, sorry she got caught.

Was listening to the NFL half-time show with those dudes from "Pardon the Interuption." This is exactly the sentiment they tried to convey.

However, like many guilty people in the past and in the future, she's only sorry now that she's been caught.

Something I wanted to post a few days ago but didn't. Carl Lewis used to be the most outspoken critic against steroids in sports. He even had on his website. I haven't checked recently and can't check here at work because of the filters. But, he removed anything relating to steroid use from his website as far back as the early 90's.

Like CH said, I really, really hope this is the tip of the iceberg. It's hard to say whether or not she'll blow the lid off this. But, I'm pretty sure someone down there has already approached her about rights to a new book. And, depending on what she decides to reveal, it could be a best-seller.

Honestly, I'm not all that convinced on the sencerity of her apology.

Cheers.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I remember another Canadian athlete by the name of Mark McCoy. McCoy was a 110 metre hurdle specialist and he tested positive for steroids as well. McCoy was guilty but the story focused more on his reaction to being caught rather than the steroid use itself.

However, he made a strong comeback in 1992 when he took the Olympic 110 m hurdle gold medal. I remember CBC giving a closeup of a smiling McCoy as he stood on the podium listening to his national anthem ... "... and he is clean ..."

The words ring loud to me.

The one thing I honestly believe Canada has missed the boat on is support of their amateur athletes. Once we find out one of our athletes has cheated, we don't just suspend them, we end up dangling them in front of the world in total disgrace. The Dubin Inquiry basically told the world that we weren't going to tolerate any kind of cheating from our athletes.

Conversely, the USA knowingly ignored Lewis' test results so as to allow him to compete. And it wasn't enough that he won, but he was one of the first to point a finger at Johnson and he made sure the world knew it too.

I used to compete in high school and have always loved the track and field competitions since. It would kill me if Donovan Bailey or Bruny Surin were to be nailed now. While I lost some respect for him during that Michael Johnson showdown in 1997, I really enjoyed watching him, Surin, Glenroy Gilbert and Robert Esmie.

"We're a team." Robert Esmie, Sudbury ON.

[jkr]

disgruntled70shab said:

skilly said:

Listening to American TV, they are all applauding her "sincerity" and forgiving her ... give me a break. She is sorry, sorry she got caught.

Was listening to the NFL half-time show with those dudes from "Pardon the Interuption." This is exactly the sentiment they tried to convey.

However, like many guilty people in the past and in the future, she's only sorry now that she's been caught.

I heard this too Dis & I wanted to gag.

She mounted an agressive "I didn't do it campaign" & now she's a hero because she mouthed a tearful apology. Give me a break.

[BadCompany]

Jones won medals in the 400 meter relay, and the 1600 meter relay... should her teammates have to give back their medals too? Afterall, if she had of been caught right away, they would have lost their medals too, right?

Or are we going to see seven gold medals awarded for one event? Four to the team that originally won silver, and three to Jones' teammates?

I think her teammates should have to give them back. Again, if Jones had of been caught cheating right away, they wouldn't have gotten them, right? You false start too many times, you AND your teammates are out, right? Sucks to be her teammates (assuming they weren't on the juice too ) but hey, cheating is cheating. If you know your teammate is on something, and you don't want to lose YOUR chance at a medal, then it would be in YOUR best interests to rat them out, don't you think?

[Disgruntled70sHab]

badcompany said:

Jones won medals in the 400 meter relay, and the 1600 meter relay... should her teammates have to give back their medals too? Afterall, if she had of been caught right away, they would have lost their medals too, right?

Or are we going to see seven gold medals awarded for one event? Four to the team that originally won silver, and three to Jones' teammates?

I think her teammates should have to give them back. Again, if Jones had of been caught cheating right away, they wouldn't have gotten them, right? You false start too many times, you AND your teammates are out, right? Sucks to be her teammates (assuming they weren't on the juice too ) but hey, cheating is cheating. If you know your teammate is on something, and you don't want to lose YOUR chance at a medal, then it would be in YOUR best interests to rat them out, don't you think?

They talked about this on "Pardon the Interuption" last night too. One of them said he didn't feel they had to give back their medals because they weren't responsible for their teammate's actions. However, the other said he had a hard time believing that any of the girls on that team did not know Jones was on steroids. I honestly can't remember but I think he also felt that they shouldn't have to hand over their medals as well regardless of what they knew.

Hard call to rat out your teammate. But, if you don't, for whatever the reason, you have to stand with them if and when they are caught. And in this case Jones was caught. I believe they should have to give back their medals.

Hey, it isn't like they're being dangled in front of the world press the way Canada did with "international-athletics-fall-guy" Ben Johnson. They should consider themselves lucky when you think about it.

Cheers.

[Skilly]

Rogge takes firm stance on Jones' medals

The Canadian Press

11/7/2007 5:17:28 PM

LONDON - Only "clean" athletes will be upgraded to get the Olympic medals relinquished by Marion Jones following her doping confession, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said Wednesday.

Rogge's statement means that Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou - at the centre of her own drug scandal at the 2004 Athens Games - may not receive the 100-metre gold medal that Jones won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"This is not going to be an automatic upgrade. . . . Every potential upgraded athlete will be scrutinized on his or her merits," Rogge said in a conference call. "We want to upgrade athletes if we are absolutely sure that they are clean. Every case will be examined."

Jones, who won three gold medals and two bronze in Sydney, confessed last month to using performance-enhancing drugs before the 2000 Olympics.

The medals were returned to the IOC, which is awaiting recommendations from track and field's governing body, the IAAF, to disqualify Jones before stripping her of her titles.

Jones won golds in the 100 metres, 200 and the 1,600 relay in Sydney, as well as bronzes in the 400 relay and long jump.

Under standard procedures, the medal standings are adjusted so the silver medallist moves up to gold if the winner is disqualified for doping or other reasons. All of the other finishers also would move up a spot.

However, the IOC and IAAF are in the awkward position of dealing with the possibility of Thanou being bumped up from silver to gold in the 100.

Thanou and fellow Greek runner Kostas Kenteris failed to show up for drug tests on the eve of the Athens Olympics, claimed they were injured in a motorcycle accident and eventually pulled out. Both later were suspended for two years.

"We will examine the case of Thanou at the next executive board meeting (in December), like we will examine potential upgrades of every athlete on its own merits," Rogge said. "Those we want to upgrade, we want to be clean."

He did not elaborate on how the IOC would determine whether the athletes were clean at the time.

Finishing behind Jones and Thanou in the 100 was Tanya Lawrence, with fellow Jamaican Merlene Ottey in fourth.

Pauline Davis-Thompson of the Bahamas won the silver behind Jones in the 200, with Sri Lanka's Susanthika Jayasinghe third and Jamaica's Beverly McDonald fourth.

Rogge said the IOC always carries out doping tests on the fourth and fifth-place finishers, as well as the three medal winners and three others at random. The IOC stores Olympic drug samples for eight years. Huh? What does this mean? There are 8 finalists in track competitions - the top five are tested according to Rogge and 3 others at random? Isn't there only 3 others left?

The IOC is also waiting for a recommendation from the IAAF on removing the medals from Jones' American relay teammates. Jamaica finished second in the 1,600-metre relay, with Russia third and Nigeria fourth. France was fourth behind the United States in the 400 relay.

"I expect the IAAF to send us a letter in the near future saying Marion Jones will be disqualified," Rogge said. "They will also have to advise us what they think about the relays and what they think of upgrading the athletes. Once we have that advice, it is up to the IOC to take the final decision."

The ruling could come at the Dec. 10-12 board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. If not, the next IOC board meeting is in April in Beijing.

Rogge spoke on a wide range of issues going into next week's world doping conference in Madrid, Spain, where an updated code of rules and sanctions will be adopted and a successor to World Anti-Doping Agency head Dick Pound elected.

Rogge said he will plead for an "acceleration" by sports bodies and governments of full compliance and implementation of global anti-doping rules.

Some federations haven't applied the regulations yet, mainly due to "administrative" delays, while only 70 of 190 governments have signed up to the UNESCO treaty on doping, Rogge said.

Rogge offered a cautious endorsement to the man lined up to become the new WADA president, former Australian finance minister John Fahey. He's the only candidate after former French sports minister Jean-Francois Lamour pulled out of the running last month and attacked WADA for allowing a late challenger into the race.

While conceding that the handover "could have been a bit more orderly," Rogge said the Olympic movement should back Fahey in the face of reluctance by some Europeans.

"John Fahey deserves to have the time to show his credentials," he said. "He's an intelligent man, he's new to the sports movement and fight against doping. He deserves the chance to show his capacities and will be judged on how he performs."

Lamour has proposed creating a European anti-doping agency, but Rogge said it was meant as a political and consultative body and would not rival what WADA is doing.

Rogge applauded cycling's governing body, the UCI, for planning to introduce a "passport" program to monitor riders' biological profiles for signs of possible doping.

"I think this is a breakthrough, and expect, with experience, this will and should be adopted by other federations," he said.

Rogge also said he will urge Spanish authorities to release the full documents from Operation Puerto, the doping investigation which has implicated dozens of cyclists. A Spanish judge has refused to allow the files to be used by sports bodies to punish athletes cited in the case.

"We want this information to be given to all the respective international bodies that need to have them for disciplinary reasons," Rogge said.

[mic]

skilly said:

Rogge said the IOC always carries out doping tests on the fourth and fifth-place finishers, as well as the three medal winners and three others at random. The IOC stores Olympic drug samples for eight years. Huh? What does this mean? There are 8 finalists in track competitions - the top five are tested according to Rogge and 3 others at random? Isn't there only 3 others left?

There are more if you take all the participents (i.e., semi-final, etc.). It isn't indicated whether the random tests apply only to the finalists (except if I read too quickly).