TENNIS in DEPTH.

Marion Lois Jones  is a former world champion track and field athlete. ( I think you know who the other one is).She won five medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia but has since agreed to forfeit all medals and prizes dating back to September 2000 after admitting that she took drugs. In October 2007, Jones admitted taking drugs before the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics and acknowledged that she had, in fact, lied when she previously denied drug use in statements to the press, to various sports agencies, and—most significantly—to two grand juries. As a result of these admissions, Jones accepted a two-year suspension from track and field competition, and announced her retirement from track and field on October 5, 2007. The United States Anti-Doping Agency stated that the sanction “also requires disqualification of all her competitive results obtained after September 1, 2000, and forfeiture of all medals, results, points and prizes”. On October 5, 2007, Jones formally pled guilty to lying to federal agents. On January 11, 2008, Jones was sentenced to 6 months in jail. She began her sentence on March 7, 2008 and was released on September 5, 2008. Today Marion is broke, looking for a job and desparately trying to put her life back together. Unlike her ‘brother’ drug user she does not have $100 million in the bank, nor is she supported by a clique of tennis comrades who would rather turn a blind eye and sweep this ‘misdemeanor’ under the rug.

I just hope that those in charge have the balls to do what is right and fair, regardless of the consequences.

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