Sprinter Marion Jones Seeks Pardon; US Track Program Head Objects

Entertainment & Sports Law

Sprinter Marion Jones Seeks Pardon; US Track Program Head Objects

Posted Jul 22, 2008, 03:58 pm CDT
By Martha Neil

A disgraced Olympic champion sprinter who lost her five gold medals due to her eventually admitted use of performance-enhancing steroids is seeking a pardon or a commutation of her six-month federal conviction for obstruction of justice from President George W. Bush.

However, the head of USA Track & Field has asked the president not to grant Marion Jones' request, reports Reuters.

"To reduce Ms Jones' sentence or pardon her would send a horrible message to young people who idolized her, reinforcing the notion that you can cheat and be entitled to get away with it," says Douglas Logan of in a letter to Bush that was released today.

Although Jones, who participated in the Sydney Olympics, eventually admitted her use of steroids, she did not do so until cornered by investigators, according to Logan's letter.

Meanwhile, "with her cheating and lying, Marion Jones did everything she could to violate the principles of track and field and Olympic competition. When she came under scrutiny for doping, she taunted any who doubted her purity, talent and work ethic. Just as she had succeeded in duping us with her performances, she duped many people into giving her the benefit of the doubt."

When Jones was sentenced in the obstruction case in the Southern District of New York early this year, CNN reported at the time, her lawyers emphasized her generally law-abiding life and said that she had already been punished severely by losing her career and livelihood and being publicly disgraced.

Earlier coverage:

ABAJournal.com: "Marion Jones Gets 6 Months; Disgraced Olympian Lied About Steroids Use"

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Posted by Renea - 1 month, 2 weeks, 2 days, 1 hour, 29 minutes ago

I really hated seeing Marion fall from grace. As a runner for 25 years and African American female, she has been - and continues to be, an athlete that I look up to. However, she was wrong in her many illegal and unethical decisions/actions. She is a smart woman and could have changed her path and actions at any time. But she didn’t. Now, like anyone in this society, she must pay her dues. She deserves no higher regards in our courts than any other American.
Posted by Jennifer - 1 month, 2 weeks, 1 day, 15 hours, 5 minutes ago

I think the real problem is the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in professional and international competition. Some athletes are making the determination based on the reality that they won’t qualify to continue if they don’t do what everyone is doing.

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