Marion Jones Does Not Exist Anymore

By Anastacia Mott Austin

Disgraced track and field superstar Marion Jones, now 32, was punished further last week when the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) stripped her of all medals and records since September 2000, banned her from the sport for two years, and required her to pay back $700,000 in award monies.

Jones confessed last month to lying during a federal investigation in 2003 about using the banned substance tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), also known as "the clear," before the 2000 Sydney Olympics (The same substance Barry Bonds has admitted to using, though he claims to have not known it was an illegal steroid).

As a result, she is not allowed to compete in any of her former events for two years, and even then she must also repay over $700,000 in award money. Jones recently declared bankruptcy, and experts guess that it could take her much longer than two years to repay all of the money.

"I have let [my fans] down. I have let my country down, and I have let myself down," said Jones last month after admitting to lying. "It is with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you I have betrayed your trust."

The admission came after years of vehement, angry denials from Jones as to her involvement with banned substances. She had been repeatedly questioned after her then-husband C.J. Hunter had tested positive for steroid use. Her second husband, Tim Montgomery, was connected to the BALCO scandal and also had his world record for the men’s100-meter sprint annulled after evidence showed that he, too, had used banned substances.

Jones’ greatest achievement was at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, where she won three gold medals, for the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints and the 4x400 relay. She also won bronze for the long jump and the 4x100 relay.

Olympic officials have urged Jones’ teammates in the relay events to return their medals as well.

Jones still claims that she did not know that her then-coach Trevor Graham was giving her illegal substances, saying to investigators that he’d told her it was flaxseed oil. "He told me to put it under my tongue for a few seconds and swallow it," said Jones to reporters last month. "He told me not to tell anyone."

Now the question is; what happens to the gold medals? Some say that each medal should be awarded to the person who placed below Jones. But Katernia Thanou, the silver medalist in the 100-meter race behind Jones, had her own trouble with doping rumors. Thanou was also banned for two years after missing several drug tests.

Fan reaction to Jones’ confession has been understandably disappointed, especially given her adamant denial over the years. Wrote one let-down online former fan, "I always thought the odds of her being clean were one in a million. It just didn’t make any sense that she wasn’t involved when everyone around her was. I guess we can call her a liar and a cheat, can’t we?"

Even Jones seems to know that her apology rings hollow, though now that she’s been stripped of virtually everything, most might think she’s been sufficiently punished. ""I recognize that by saying I'm deeply sorry, it might not be enough and sufficient to address the pain and hurt that I've caused you," said Jones last month.

"Therefore, I want to ask for your forgiveness for my actions, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."