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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Jones 'to plead guilty to doping' | Jones 'to plead guilty to doping' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| US athlete Marion Jones has arrived in court where she is expected to plead guilty to lying about using steroids in the run-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. | |
| The International Olympic Committee said it knew of her intended plea. Ms Jones could lose her three gold medals. | |
| Ms Jones's New York court appearance comes a day after the Washington Post reported she had sent letters to family and friends apologising for drug use. | Ms Jones's New York court appearance comes a day after the Washington Post reported she had sent letters to family and friends apologising for drug use. |
| She has previously denied using drugs to aid performance, despite suspicions. | She has previously denied using drugs to aid performance, despite suspicions. |
| The American sprinter failed one blood test last year but was cleared of doping when a second test for the blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO) proved negative. | The American sprinter failed one blood test last year but was cleared of doping when a second test for the blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO) proved negative. |
| 'I am sorry' | 'I am sorry' |
| According to the letter she sent to close family and friends, Ms Jones said she had taken a steroid known as "the clear" for two years from 1999. | According to the letter she sent to close family and friends, Ms Jones said she had taken a steroid known as "the clear" for two years from 1999. |
| She said it was given to her by her former coach and that she had taken it thinking it was flaxseed oil, a nutritional supplement. | She said it was given to her by her former coach and that she had taken it thinking it was flaxseed oil, a nutritional supplement. |
| "I want to apologise for all of this," the Post quoted her letter as saying. "I am sorry for disappointing you all in so many ways." | "I want to apologise for all of this," the Post quoted her letter as saying. "I am sorry for disappointing you all in so many ways." |
| The athlete, who became the first woman to win five medals at a single Olympic Games in 2000, said she could face up to six months in prison, the Post reported. | The athlete, who became the first woman to win five medals at a single Olympic Games in 2000, said she could face up to six months in prison, the Post reported. |
| In a statement issued on Friday, the IOC said: "The IOC has learnt about Marion Jones' intention to plead guilty to lying to federal agents about her use of performance-enhancing substances during her career." | In a statement issued on Friday, the IOC said: "The IOC has learnt about Marion Jones' intention to plead guilty to lying to federal agents about her use of performance-enhancing substances during her career." |
| The IOC launched an investigation in 2004 into doping allegations involving Ms Jones, connected to the US Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (Balco). | The IOC launched an investigation in 2004 into doping allegations involving Ms Jones, connected to the US Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (Balco). |
| Progress in the Balco inquiry had been slow because it was difficult to gather findings, the statement said. | Progress in the Balco inquiry had been slow because it was difficult to gather findings, the statement said. |
| "The information that Marion Jones might provide later on today may prove to be key in moving this case forward," it added. | "The information that Marion Jones might provide later on today may prove to be key in moving this case forward," it added. |