Marion Jones threatens lawsuit if kept out of Olympics
Last Updated: Monday, May 17, 2004 | 1:42 AM ET
CBC Sports
Jones made the statement Sunday at a U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in New York.
According to its rules, the USADA can bring a drug case against an athlete in lieu of a positive test when it believes it "has other reason to believe that a potential doping violation has occurred, such as admitted doping."
American sprinter Marion Jones won five medals at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. (CP Photo)
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"I can tell you this," Jones said Sunday. "If I make the Olympic team, which I plan to do in Sacramento [at the American trials], and I'm held from the Olympic Games because of something that somebody thought, you can pretty much bet there will be a lawsuit."
Jones, a five-time Olympic medallist at the 2000 Sydney Games, was one of several high-profile athletes who testified before a grand jury during the investigation into Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative – the lab at the centre of a performance-enhancing drug scandal.
An appearance before the grand jury does not mean an athlete is a target of the probe.
U.S. authorities later charged BALCO founder Victor Conte, vice-president James Valente, trainer Greg Anderson and track and field coach Remi Korchemny with distributing steroids. All four men have pleaded not guilty to charges.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate agreed to give American Olympic officials evidence collected on banned performance-enhancing drug use among athletes.
The San Jose Mercury News, citing a report prepared by federal agents, reported last month that the document claims Conte told the agents he gave steroids to 27 athletes, including Jones.
The New York Times also reported last month that a cheque for $7,350 US was written from Jones' bank account to Conte prior to the Sydney Olympics.
Jones said she had no knowledge of the cheque and was confident her name would be cleared from the whole situation. She has denied ever taking or being offered any performance-enhancing drugs.
The U.S. Olympic track and field trials take place July 9-18 in Sacramento, Calif. The USOC has until July 21 to submit its Olympics roster to the International Olympic Committee.
The Athens Olympics run from Aug. 13-29.
with files from CP Online
