Olympic champion shocks America with delayed admission of steroid use

KERRA TRIVIERI
Sports Editor

Many sports fans may remember the 2000 Sydney Olympics as an international landmark for females as Marion Jones became one of the most accomplished athletes in the world. Jones' achievements became a female Summer Olympics record, a landmark in the history of sports.

"I looked up to her a lot in high school despite the controversy around her on more than one occasion," said sophomore thrower Julia Hopson, of Fredonia's women's track team.

In the midst of allegations of using drugs during this time, Jones still walked away from the Olympics with two bronze medals and three gold medals for her achievements in track and field. It was not until recently, nearly eight years later, that these allegations proved true.

"To hear that the rumors are true after all of these years is just heartbreaking," Hopson said.

On Friday Oct. 5, Jones read a statement in which she continued to defend herself. The athlete claimed that she inadvertently used performance-enhancing drugs before her participation in the Olympics up until mid-2001.

"She will be a great disappointment to young fans that looked up to her and believed her all these years," said sports management and exercise science department lecturer Penny Hite. "I give her credit for setting the record straight but everyone associated with the sport knew she was juicing while she was in competition."

Jones has now joined the growing list of dishonest professional athletes including baseball player Barry Bonds, who is still under investigation. Jones and Bonds have made similar claims in their cases as they both believed the substance to be flaxseed oil.

"We live in a world ruled by fame, glory and greed," said adjunct professor, of the department of health and wellness, Pam Benchley. "Professional sports have a beautiful and glorious side, but a dark side as well. There is just too much money involved."

With Jones' admission come the consequences. It has been reported that she will face a Jan. 11 sentence in addition to being stripped of the medals she earned during the 2000 Summer Olympics.

"Stronger education on the long term affects of steroidal use should be enforced even more now," Hite said. "Athletes themselves have to decide not to abuse the substance based on the fact that they will indeed ruin their futures."

-Additional information provided by www.nytimes.com