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| Jones pleads guilty in drug case | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US athlete Marion Jones has pleaded guilty to lying to investigators when she denied using banned steroids in the run-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. | |
| Her plea could see her jailed and stripped of the five medals she won. | |
| 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. |
| The sprinter had previously denied using drugs to enhance her performance, despite suspicions she had done so. | The sprinter had previously denied using drugs to enhance her performance, despite suspicions she had done so. |
| She failed one blood test last year but was cleared of doping when a second test for the blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO) proved negative. | She 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 International Olympic Committee 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 International Olympic Committee 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. |