Jones considered as one of the longest and most dismal tales in sports that has been disfigured by doping, reached its denouement by handing over the five medals she won at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. Jones won the 100 metres, 200 metres in addition to taking third in the long jump, was part of the winning 4×400 team and the third-place 4×100 team.
The ending is infact a valuable reminder that true athletic accomplishment is not obtained through cheating and any medal acquired through doping is only fool’s gold.
Jones herself had steadfastly denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs, even as the BALCO suspicions swirled around her. To further extent she even sued BALCO founder Victor Conte, for defamation over his accusations.
United States Olympic Committee chief executive Jim Scherr said:
She relinquished this afternoon the medals that were won unfairly at the Sydney Games. She took the right step by quickly returning the medals.They are in the possession of the USOC and will be returned to the IOC so they can be awarded to the appropriate winners at the Olympic Games.
Announcing her retirement last week after admitting of taking steroids to a New York court, Jones also accepts a two-year ban and will have to hand back more than 100,000 dollars in prize and bonus money.
Via: BBC
