Another call for Marion Jones to tell all
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BEIJING -- The president of the international track federation feels the same way about Marion Jones as the judge who sentenced her to six months in prison.
Lamine Diack wants Jones to ‘fess up.
In a 20-minute explanation of why he gave the maximum sentence prosecutors recommended last fall, federal judge Kenneth Karas suggested he had doubts about whether Jones had revealed the extent of her doping.
Wednesday, speaking with a small group of U.S. media, Diack said one of the things defrocked Olympic champion Jones should do after she is released from prison is go to USA Track & Field’s annual convention and tell everyone the full story.
Jones has lost her three gold and two bronze medals from the Sydney Olympics after she pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about doping and about her role in a money-laundering scheme. She admitted to drug use only in part of 1999 and 2000.
‘She has to tell the athletes committee what happened and why,’’ Diack said. ‘She has to explain. I’m not going to say she was a liar and so on and so on.’’
Sorry, Mr. Diack, I wouldn’t wait for that.
If Jones does tell the story, it likely will be in a tearful sequel to the interview she gave Oprah Winfrey last year.
And if she tells the whole truth, it will finally end eight years of deceit.
-- Philip Hersh
