12/18/24
May 16, 2004
An athlete taking steroids? Impossible. Marion Jones is as innocent as Bill Romanowski, the Chinese women's swim team, and all those guys in the bodybuilding "pose downs" on ESPN2. Certainly her freakishly huge musculature and Mark McGwire chipmunk face are only the result of natural ability and a committed training regiment. She only went to BALCO for the zinc supplements. Because you can't get zinc supplements at the Rite Aid, can you now?
posted by molafson at 07:45 PM on May 16, 2004
I know most people think she's guilty. But her odessy of dodging and ducking and crying paints her as so obviously sickeningly guilty it's freaking hilarious. Between BALCO and Hunter and Francis steroids must have been in the breakfast cereal.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:12 AM on May 17, 2004
I have no idea if she's guilty or not, and I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea of saying 'we don't have a test, but we'll ban you anyway.' But I have very little sympathy with a response of 'well, then I'll sue you'- maybe 'I'll volunteer to regularly get tested, since I'm innocent, and I'll publicly testify against my husband and BALCO' might be a more productive response.
posted by tieguy at 07:05 AM on May 17, 2004
Even if she does sue, it won't matter.
"If the IAAF and IOC decide they don't want her, then she basically has no recourse," said attorney Jim Coleman, an expert in sports drug cases.
posted by Jugwine at 10:29 AM on May 18, 2004
If she was clean in each one, you must let her run. If you can't prove she's a cheat, then let her compete. Every test she's passed - maybe she's just fast. Let her through, or the lady will sue. I'm just getting warmed up here...
posted by dusted at 11:23 AM on May 18, 2004
a little johny cochrane of our own.....cool. but, dusted, there is proof, and that's why the THG-less tests don't mean squat. Marion needs to be forthcoming with her answers, and stop responding on the advice of her attorneys. Sue away beeatch.....you've provided our verdict with your behavior.
posted by garfield at 12:20 PM on May 18, 2004
Is there proof? Everything I've seen is circumstantial evidence. Can anyone link to an article citing proof that she's doping?
posted by dusted at 12:35 PM on May 18, 2004
The proof I'm referring to is confidential at the moment. Her 'testimony' is sealed, but presumably its the impetus for her Olympic berth being threatened. She's pissed, just as Curt Schilling was, because she testified, and now it might come back to haunt her....but what really is haunting her is her 'supplement' usage.
posted by garfield at 01:08 PM on May 18, 2004
maybe 'proof' is too strong of a word....its a hunch on my part.
posted by garfield at 01:18 PM on May 18, 2004
That's the problem I have with disqualifying an athlete without 100% proof. It's (as far as we know, anyway) a hunch. Even the proven cheaters that fail a test get a second test to confirm the results!
posted by dusted at 01:27 PM on May 18, 2004
I agree. The logic is fallible. But Jones' half-assed denials aren't credible.
posted by garfield at 01:34 PM on May 18, 2004
Free Marion Jones! Seriously, what is going on when a top athlete is threatened with an Olympic ban without solid any proof?
posted by dusted at 05:37 PM on May 24, 2004
Well, that's forthcoming. Glad to see her change tact. That legal bob & weave BS is unbecoming, and usually indicative of some measure of guilt.
posted by garfield at 05:50 PM on May 24, 2004
I think if she is barred, the USOC has to lay out all the evidence in public and show there's no doubt, otherwise Jones should run in Athens.