How Should Marion Jones Be Viewed?

The Marion Jones case of the "A" test and the "B" test is a tough one.

I assumed, as I think many people did, that Jones was finally caught, and that was that.

There is a story in the L.A. Times that discusses her problems.

The 30-year-old sprinter had fallen on hard times after winning three gold
medals and two bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Her ex-husband C.J. Hunter and ex-boyfriend Tim Montgomery had been
suspended for doping violations, and her former coach Trevor Graham had been
sanctioned.

Jones also had been swept up in the BALCO scandal,
confronted with allegations of steroid use, which she steadfastly
denied.

Then the unthinkable, at least to me, happened. Jones's "B" sample of the test didn't match the "A" sample of the test, and thus she was cleared. At least of this one test.

And, to quote Jones, "I have always maintained that I have never, ever taken performance-enhancing drugs, and I am pleased that a scientific process has now demonstrated that fact."

So, given her history, what to think?

Well, Jon Saraceno of USA Today, for one, doesn't believe her.

... It is an Olympian leap of logic to be cleared of any doping in one meet and
then claim that means you never used performance-enhancing drugs.

I agree, but with reservations.

When athletes fail one drug test, they are automatically suspended. Many of these suspensions are long term. Many thus are banned basically for life because of the nature of their sports.

By that logic, if Jones passes one drug test, doesn't it follow that she should get to claim that she is completely drug free, any evidence to the contrary? But the drug-testing standard, Marion Jones is a clean athlete.

While to me that really doesn't pass the sniff test, I think that she needs to be considered clean as of now. Especially considering that while this was a drug test that got some publicity, this wasn't the only drug test that she has ever passed. Up until now, she's passed all of her tests.

Mark McGwire has been accused of using steroids (mostly by that paragon of virtue, Jose Canseco), and it is confirmed that he used "andro," which was banned by most other sports organizations but not HIS ruling body, Major League Baseball. He seemed evasive in front of Congress when asked point-blank if he had ever used steroids.

Having said all of that, I think that, historically, Mark McGwire, never having failed a drug test, never admitting to using steroids, should be considered a clean athlete. You can bring the circumstantial issues up when discussing him. But to me, he's clean.

As is, as of this moment, Marion Jones.

thankyouverymuch,

OldCleat