WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Marion Jones was sentenced Friday to six months in prison for lying about using steroids and a check-fraud scam, despite her plea that she not be separated from her two young children "even for a short period of time."
"I ask you to be as merciful as a human being can be," she said.
Jones must report to prison no later than March 11. She also was given two years of supervised probation and 400 hours of community service.
Last October, Jones admitted she lied to a federal investigators in November 2003 when she denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
She said she took a designer steroid "several times before the Sydney Olympics and continued using it after."
The sentence completes a stunning fall for the woman who was once the most celebrated female athlete in the world. She won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can" -- John Wesley
I believe there was a plea bargain without jail time for the lying offense, but the six months is for the check scam. (I could be wrong - it happened once before)
Six months seems like pretty strong medicine to me. Not to condone her behavior (and I know the charge is about lying) but let's get real: athletes, including Olympic athletes, have been taking steroids at least since the 1960s. All the self-righteousness over this issue seems a little misplaced.
Marion is a local girl from Rio Mesa & Thousand Oaks High Schools. The local newspaper has been very low profile about reporting bad reports about her, I assume she is still thought of as a real life celebrity and hero. Too bad, the large fall from grace.
Marion is a local girl from Rio Mesa & Thousand Oaks High Schools. The local newspaper has been very low profile about reporting bad reports about her, I assume she is still thought of as a real life celebrity and hero. Too bad, the large fall from grace.
That's interesting. Around here, where she went to college, her reputation is definitely tarnished. I haven't heard lately, but back when she first admitted to the steroids, there was debate about whether her picture should still hang in the Track & Field Hall of Fame here.
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can" -- John Wesley
Thousand Oaks High School (a very active wrestling school in Ventura County) had what amounted to a shrine to Jones in the front window of the gym. Shortly after her book came out, where she ripped the school and the community (she transferred in for the improved athletic opportunity, and was then offended because she was not appropriately worshiped, which obviously meant that the community was racist) all of the trophies, photos, plaques, etc. were removed from the window. If Thousand Oaks HS is not crowing about her fall from glory, it is an act of graciousness.
...and was then offended because she was not appropriately worshiped, which obviously meant that the community was racist)
Do you have a problem when anyone raises the issue of race in America?
If so, why?
--racism does not exist?
--racism no longer exists in America? (Ended on or about _____)
--racism exists but people should not complain about it because people only get upset?
--racism exists but to talk about it (except to resent its mention) only perpetuates it?
--history is irrelevant to anything going on now?
--other?
If someone does raise the issue of race, directly or implicitly,, whether you think it right, wrong or somewhere in-between, how does that translate into a charge that you, or your community, or white people in general are racist? (a somewhat different question).
Did Marion Jones call Thousand Oaks racist, or are you just expressing a general resentment that anyone would ever level such a charge unfairly?
How many baseball players took steroids in the report this year? None of them are in jail as far as I know. Why do American sports get off easy like that?
How many baseball players took steroids in the report this year? None of them are in jail as far as I know. Why do American sports get off easy like that?
That report was different Big. She lied to federal investigators during the BALCO investigation.
Those baseball players (except Barry Bonds) didn't lie under oath to a federal grand jury, or to federal investigators. Apples and Oranges.
6 months in jail for Marion Jones 
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