Attorney for Jones slams comments from IOC boss
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-09 06:28

Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones - determined to clear her name of doping smears - launched a frustrated attack on International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge on Monday after he criticized her choice of associates.

The triple gold medallist from the Sydney Games is being investigated by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and Rogge said in a newspaper interview that her cause was not being helped by her companions.

But Jones insisted on the eve of a IAAF super grand prix meeting in Ostrava that she had "nothing to hide."

Asked about Rogge's comments, she told a news conference: "That is ignorance. We can sit down and I will explain to him - that is the only thing I can do.

"I am sorry that he did not consider my (previous) statements...and then I read something like that."

Jones, who has never failed a drug test, said she was happy for "all my samples" to be tested again to prove her innocence.

Earlier, Jones's attorney issued a statement fiercely attacking Rogge for his comments in the paper.

'Highly suspect'

"For a man in Jacque Rogge's position to make comments like this while an organization that is under his influence is conducting a supposedly non-biased examination is highly suspect and unfair as it shows an utter lack of appreciation for the integrity of the process," Joseph Burton said in a statement issued to Reuters on Monday.

"She is today technically innocent," Rogge was quoted as saying in the paper. "But ultimately she has to ask herself something about the perception that people might have - that people might say, 'Are you sure you are living with the right people?"'

She briefly trained with the coach of disgraced 1988 Olympic 100 metres champion Ben Johnson, Charlie Francis, and lives with current record holder Tim Montgomery who has also been under suspicion. The couple have a baby boy who was born last year.

Jones's attorney continued: "Assuming that this wasn't intended to influence USADA, it is irresponsible, has the effect of tainting the decision-making process and only contributes to the perception of a 'witch-hunt' to target an athlete who has passed every drug test she has taken."

Montgomery has also never failed a drug test. Both athletes testified in the grand federal jury hearing into the activities of Californian laboratory BALCO which is suspected of providing banned substances for athletics including a new steroid, THG.

The lawyers of both Jones and Montgomery have confirmed they have been questioned by USADA representatives.

BALCO owner Victor Conte has been indicted with four others for alleged steroid distribution.

Several athletes, including European 100 metres champion Dwain Chambers and double world sprint champion Kelli White have been suspended, the former for testing positive for THG and the American admitted taking banned substances including the blood booster erythropoietin (EPO). She has said she had no links with BALCO.

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