Written by: staff writer
Posted: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas had no choice. Only a few months after Marion Jones admitted that she lied to prosecutors about steroid use and her involvement in a check fraud scandal, she pleaded before the federal court to be spared from prison. In the end, the judge sentenced her to 6 months.
The punishment appears harsh for the former Olympic champion as prosecutors were only asking for a sentence of something between probation and six months. Jones' lawyers felt that she had been punished enough. But Karas wanted to make an example of Jones saying, "Athletes in society have an elevated status, they entertain, they inspire, and perhaps, most important, they serve as role models."
The 31 year old also was given 2 years' probation and supervised release where she will have to complete 200 hours of community service.
"As everyone can imagine, I'm very disappointed today," Jones told reporters outside court. "But as I stood in front of all of you for years in victory, I stand in front of you today. I stand for what is right."
"I respect the judge's order, and I truly hope that people will learn from my mistakes," added Jones
After her admission in October, Jones returned her Olympic medals, golds in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 1,600-meter relay and bronzes in the long jump and 400-meter relay, even before the International Olympic Committee ordered her to do so and wiped her records from the books.
"It's with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust," said a saddened Jones in October 2007. "I have been dishonest, and you have the right to be angry with me. I have let (my family) down. I have let my country down, and I have let myself down... I want to ask for your forgiveness for my actions, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
Jones was brought before a grand jury to testify in the BALCO case in 2003. She denied her involvement saying, "I have never, ever used performance-enhancing drugs." Shortly after the hearing she sued BALCO founder Victor Conte but when his labs were searched, prosecutors found a number of links to Jones.
More on this story as it breaks...
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