Olympic champ Marion Jones sprints into Fort Worth federal prison

The prison 4 by 100 team noticeably improved when former Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones reported to the federal pen in Fort Worth Texas yesterday.  Jones begins a 6 month sentence for deceiving federal investigators looking into her PED use while she was hooked up with the BALCO operation.  (from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Former Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones reported to the Federal Medical Center-Carswell on Friday, four days before she was required to begin serving her six-month sentence.

Jones, who lives in Austin, arrived at the federal prison in Fort Worth before noon, Traci Billingsley, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, confirmed.

Jones was sentenced to six months in prison and two years' probation and community service for lying to federal investigators about her steroid use and a check-fraud scheme. She is expected to be housed in the minimum-security unit, where she could work in the kitchen or in ground maintenance or most likely in the recreation department.

Jones, a three-time gold medalist, has returned all five medals she won in the 2000 Sydney Olympics after pleading guilty in October. After years of denials, Jones told the court that her then-coach Trevor Graham first gave her steroids in 1999, telling her it was flaxseed oil. She continued using THG, or "the clear," through the 2000 Olympics and until 2001.

Thus begins the latest chapter of Jones's decent into PED hell.  Jones, who always appears congenial to journalists and fans, received a great deal of sinister help from former doper spouses like CJ Hunter, and Tim Montgomery, ex-coach Trevor Graham, and the boys at BALCO who conspired to cheat track and field in 'Operation World Record'.  Seems like Jones will suffer more punishment than her 'roiding co-conspirators. 

Comments

[quita]

marion jones will always be a champ and a great leader/ superstar to those of us who for whatever reasons never got to get to that level. so many people try to stop people with great talents. your not any worse than alot of others out there that are in the lime light. your a great mother and keep your beautiful head high through tough times. americas praying for you just like we were in your olympic day. quita (dallas texas)

[Janet]

I've been truly touched by Marion Jones' decision to honor her inner voice and confess. I'm horrified that the judicial response is to throw her into prison for six months. I know she has the integrity and fortitude to deal with this, but I'm saddened by this current culture of "kick 'em when they're down." Hang in there, Marion. I hope you don't disappear.