Sprinter Marion’s Career Faces Hurdle

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The career of 30-year-old former Olympic champion, Marion Jones, is precariously placed. Her "A" sample tested positive for the banned endurance-boosting hormone erythropoietin (EPO) at the June U.S. track and field championships in Indianapolis. The result of the "B" sample is pending.

Under the anti-doping protocols, Jones will be charged only if the “B sample” - tests positive. Should the sample prove psitive, Jones would face a minimum two-year and her career, in effect, would be over.

Jones's lawyer, Rich Nichols, said: "It is unfortunate that the integrity and the confidentiality of the testing process may have been breached, but Marion Jones has always been clear, she has never taken performance-enhancing substances, not now, not ever. She is always prepared to do whatever it takes to demonstrate that she has never taken performance-enhancing substances."

While the controversy rages, Marion Jones pulled out of the 200 meters at the U.S. championships just before the preliminaries, citing personal reasons. Media spokesperson Christoph said "All we know is that she turned up at five o'clock in the morning and said she was leaving. Her manager told us it was for personal reasons."

Marion has had a controversial career, her name being muddied with unfounded allegations during the BALCO trial which saw former partner Tim Montgomery banned and stripped of titles.

Earlier this year, Jones had settled a $25 million US federal defamation lawsuit against BALCO founder Victor Conte. Jones filed the lawsuit in December of 2004, alleging Conte tarnished her reputation by stating that he supplied performance-enhancing drugs to Jones and designed a doping regimen for her and watched her inject herself with steroids.

Her coach, Steve Riddick, reposed full confidence on her and confidently said she was innocent. He queried why a 100 meter runner would take a drug that increases endurance, “I would stake my life on it she did not take EPO. It doesn’t make any sense unless she wanted to commit public suicide.”