FanNation - The Republic of Sport

She is getting what she deserves. It's really sad for her. She had promise, but surrounded herself with toxic influences. She can't make a comeback now, but she could learn a valuable lesson that is always imporant knowledge no matter what you do- steer clear of despicable folk at every turn....

WOW! Like we ever really thought she was telling the truth about being clean. I just say wow because she's got courage to admit it.

Let the confessional line start to the left. Barry...?

Let's see...she had the physique of a man during the olympics. Was anyone in doubt that she was using steroids?

Lets at least wait until the story. All this leaking of stories is crazy. If she did it then I'm sure she will have to pay a price. Doesn't bother me at all.

If track is really serious about cleaning up its act, Flo Jo's world records need to be wiped off the books. Marion Jones was simply following in Flo Jo's footsteps.

did my 1st comment not make it? Anyway, a summary:
1. she should lose all her medals;
2. don't give me this "I took the "clear" and the cream but didn't ask to much about what they were after the coach told me too keep quiet;
3. Bonds says he took the "clear" and the cream, ergo he used steroids and should be stripped of his records;
4. finally, I work in an ICU and we had a 40yr old in with liver failure due to steroids. Very few steroid users ever get good enough to make big money. The rest end up in hospital and die young.

This is sad. I was a fan of hers. She was probably the biggest star of the Sydney olympics with her infectious smile and charisma. I had an inkling that something was wrong when the Balco scandal first surfaced and the fact that her boyfriend and an ex were caught using drugs. Can you trust any sport now?

I agree that she should be stripped of her medals. Everything else? She has already done it to herself. It's sad, but this takes away any accomplishments she has had an as athlete or at least tarnished its authenticity. When your life *is* a sport, this essentially means you???ve lived for nothing up until the point you???re caught. Athletes know this, and is why they don???t come forward.

She's only in her current legal predicament -pleading guilty to steroids and doing time- because she ran out of money to defend herself. Of course she took steroids . . . look at her!

Face it everyone, Barry has plenty of cash, and anything short of video evidence showing him juicing up with a large syringe labeled "steroids" in big bold letters, he will stick to his flaxseed defense, just like Marion had.

The difference between Marion and Barry is that it was not a *banned* substance when Barry was doing it. He's been the most tested athlete in MLB - or any sport! - since, and has been clean every single time.
Don't get me wrong: I (like everyone) condemn Barry for doing it, and think it was totally unethical, and smears the game of baseball...just like McGuire, Canseco, Sosa, Giambi, and probably *dozens* of others.
But still: As much as we may disagree, Barry's records should stand because it wasn't technically banned at the time. Marion, on the other hand, should lose all the medals.

What Barry took wasn't "banned"? Oh really. It was against FEDERAL LAW! Crack cocaine isn't "banned" by my company...because it's freakin' illegal to possess/use under federal/state/local law to begin with. I'd still get fired for using it though. The same applies to steroids. Saying that they weren't "banned" by MLB completely dodges the issue.

BTW...Barry isn't even close to being the "most tested" athlete in sports. Try Lance Armstrong or athletes who participate in the Olympics...the drug testing policies are MUCH more comprehensive and intrusive in those areas.

If she's proven to have cheated during the Sydney Olympics she should have her metals stripped. This is very sad, but its just the tip of the steroids iceberg.

OK, not that anyone believed her or any other athlete that's been linked to all of this Balco stuff....but....how much harder do you think they'll lean on the other athletes that are denying use of the substances? Hey Mr. Barry Bonds, you better start worrying!!!! These athletes make me sick. First Rafael Palmero denies he did nothing and he gets caught. Jason Giambi does the same and he comes clean eventually and now Marion Jones does the same?!?!? Who can you believe anymore?? I say they get what they deserve, throw the book at them!! They defrauded the American public who supported them at some point.

WHAT A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME!!! You've got to be the biggest MORON to take that crap and to continue to do it with the current landscape of sports.

To me, this story is actually bigger than Marion Jones. There are so, so, so many professional athletes using steroids today that it's ridiculous. Marion, Barry and the others are just a fraction of the true number of them doping. There is probably already another substance out there that the athletes are now using that can't yet be detected. Steroids is ALWAYS going to be a part of sports, remember as stated in another post this is their "jobs" and people will sometimes do anything to get to the top! I don't think that Marion is a bad person, I just think she got caught up in the "game" of her profession. She's no different than anyone else (Presidents, Actors, CEOs etc) who gets caught up in the game and actually gets caught - she lied. Now she must face the consequences.

If this story is true, I feel bad for the athletes that won the silver behind her. They were robbed of the ultimate award in their careers.

I can't quite bring myself to say that she should lose her medals because it's my belief that the whole sport is dirty (or at least was dirty while she was competing).

What bothers me still is that she didn't quite "come clean." She continues to assert that she didn't know what she was taking at first. That is so clearly a lie.

I am laughing at the statement that Barry was the most tested athelete.

He probably was if you consider the tests that BALCO was running to ensure he could pass the ridiculously lax MLB testing policy.

And in fact, there is no test in MLB for HGH. So he could very well have taken that for the past 4-5 years, still be on it, and pass a test.

If you want real drug testing you have to go to the Olympics or Pro cycling.

US sports are ridiculously lax in their testing, and also provide violators protection by ensuring any positive test results are kept "anonymous".

I do find it ironic she also used the "flaxseed" excuse that Barry did. I guess that excuse has a 50% success rate.

Personally I think she should be stripped of her medals then employed by the USOC to help speak about what steroids can do to a career as well as helping to prevent more athletes by going down this road.

THF - Come on!!! From one UNC-alum to another...give it a break!!

Don't people deserve second chances? Don't people deserve a chance to turn themselves around, make redemption for their actions? I mean I agree that the medals should be stripped, and a couple years ban from Track and Field, but please keep UNC out of this. They would never turn their back on Marion like that. As a true tarheel, I thought u knew once a tarheel always a tarheel. Marion did a lot while at UNC, helping guide the women's bb to a national title in 94. Marion is a trooper and will bounce back from this. She won't be able to run for a while, but I do think she should get the chance to run again, and this time clean - and she should then expect to be the most tested woman out there running.

Maybe in the future she can try to turn this scandal into something positive and talk to young people concerning making good decisions in their life and the negative effects of using performance-enhancing drugs.
I mean even before she hit UNC, Marion was an outstanding athlete from a young age and excelled at numerous sports. I would hate to see such a talented athlete not be able to show her true "natural" gifts given to her by God - but SHE ALWAYS HAVE BASKETBALL!
She wouldn't have to be doped up to excel in the WNBA!

I believe she should be stripped of her medals.
I'm tired of hearing all about these "athletes" who constantly deny taking illegal substances, and then finally admit it when push comes to shove.

What we should really worry about is the message this is sending to the younger generations. We are giving them the messages that it is okay to cheat, because of what you can gain. We're not promoting sport as it should be promoted - a sport, a game.... fun!

When we have parents beating up on each other at their childs **** wee baseball games over a bad call by the umpire, it sends the wrong message.

Winning at all costs is not what sport is about.