Six-month jail sentence for Jones

[Highlander999]

American Olympian Marion Jones has been sentenced to six months in prison for lying about steroid use and involvement in a drugs fraud case. Good to see a judge who is prepared to give out harsh sentences

The former sprinter pleaded guilty last October and was sentenced on Friday.

Mother-of-two Jones, 32, had asked US District Judge Kenneth Karas to be "as merciful as a human being can be".

But the judge imposed the maximum under her plea deal "because of the need for general deterrence and the need to promote respect for the law".

Judge Karas said he believed a message needed to be sent to athletes who have abused drugs and as a result, have overlooked the values of "hard work, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship".

"Athletes in society have an elevated status, they entertain, they inspire, and perhaps, most important, they serve as role models."

He added: "Nobody is above the legal obligation to tell the truth."

Rest of the article is here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7182969.stm

 

[lancashire666]

how the golden girl of american athlectics has fallen, a drug cheat deserves no less than she has received, no sympathy for her at all

 

[Will_NA]

When I read the thread, I thought you meant Simon Jones and my heart stopped. Anyway, I heard about it yesterday.

 

[usy]

ohh same here, I though it was the english player. Anyways bad bad.

 

[aussie1st]

Was a long time since she was a superstar of the track. She basically slipped of the face of the earth after the Olympics for me as I didn't hear anything about her after that.
Deserved punishment though, you cheat you serve the time.