Marion Jones Stripped Of Records, Medals
All of Marion Jones' results dating to September 2000, including her Olympic and world championship titles, were annulled Friday because of doping. Track and field's governing body also told her to return her estimated $700,000 in prize money from that period.
The International Association of Athletics Federation recommended that Jones' relay teammates be disqualified and lose their medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The IAAF council also upheld the two-year ban imposed on Jones by U.S. officials. She retired last month after pleading guilty to lying to federal investigators in 2003. Jones admitted she had taken the designer steroid "the clear" from September 2000 to July 2001.
Jones won gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 and the 1,600-meter relay in Sydney, as well as bronzes in the 400 relay and long jump. She won the 200 world title in 2001.
Jones has returned her five Olympic medals and agreed to forfeit all results dating to Sept. 1, 2000. But it's still up to the IAAF and International Olympic Committee to change the record books and revise the medals.
The IAAF said Jones was disqualified from all competitions since Sept. 1, 2000, with all results erased. That includes all relays, not just individual events.
The IAAF added Jones must return all awards, medals and money from that period. IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said Jones can't compete again unless she pays back the approximate $700,000. Even though Jones has retired, she is officially suspended until Oct. 7, 2009.
Jones would have to give the IAAF 12 months' notice if she wants to return to competition after the ban, Davies said.
The IAAF did not take a position on whether Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou should be upgraded to the Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters. That will be up to the IOC, which has authority over Olympic medals.
Thanou and fellow Greek runner Kostas Kenteris failed to show for drug tests on the eve of the 2004 Athens Games, claiming they were injured in a motorcycle accident and eventually pulled out. They were later banned for two years.
IOC president Jacques Rogge has said there will be no automatic upgrade, and that only "clean" athletes will be moved up in the medals. The IOC is considering whether to leave the 100-meter winner's place vacant.