Chad Newton
Staff Writer  

   Disgraced former Olympic Medalist Marion Jones decided to come clean and admit she used performance-enhancing drugs to achieve legendary status. The rise of Jones' triumphs gave women something to shoot for, but now the scandal made her greatness fall down faster than the Twin Towers of 9/11. 

   In 2000 when federal authorities asked Jones if she ever used illegal enhancing drugs to win Olympic Medals, she answered "no." The world believed Jones told the truth, so the issue was dropped. Then, Jones took advantage of all the luxuries and fame she so heartily cheated to acquire.

   Thanks to her deceptive tactics, hardworking Olympian athletes who chose not to use steroids are heartbroken. Jones was not only a role model but a symbol of greatness. Young female athletes regarded her as an Olympic Goddess. Jones surrendered all five of her medals - three gold and two bronze - Oct. 8.

  Bay-Area Laboratory Cooperative, the company that provides illegal substances to athletes, admitted Jones was a BALCO client. Founder and owner Victor Conte was also convicted for providing such substances to other athletes. Barry Bonds was named as a client, as well as Jason Giambi. Conte also admitted he saw Jones inject The Clear (a liquid steroid). This testimony came before Jones announced she did in fact use The Clear to win Olympic Gold Medals.

   The question now is do her teammates have to share the same fate and surrender their medals? All her teammates stated they competed clean and should not get pulled into this scandal because of their teammate’s selfishness. I believe her teammates should receive a fair shake.

   They worked their butts off while Jones chose to shoot The Clear in hers. I believe the second and third place Olympians deserve upgrades of their medals as well as their teammates. In my opinion, Jones brought more disgrace and shame than Michael Vick. Vick fought and killed dogs, but he never admitted to using steroids to enhance his abilities to win.  

  Last week, Jones came out in the public eye with a tearful confession stating what she did was wrong and she apologizes. It took Jones six years to finally fess up to what some have speculated all along. Meanwhile, Jones went bankrupt - coincidence or perfectly planned? Also, Jones was involved with a $25,000 hot check fraud, which spells P-R-I-S-O-N. 

   Some people believe it was honorable and endearing for her to come out and admit to the scandal. To those that believe this,  I say, “ get a life you bums." There was no honor in her admittance. If anything, she should have said it earlier and forfeited her fame and fortune.

   Jones even went as far as to say she took flax seed oil. Name one flax seed oil product you inject? I’m still waiting, but I’ll give you the answer: NONE. Jones lied and deceived her fans and fellow athletes. I would go as far to say she disappointed black female athletes who came before her and worked so hard to continue a trail of success. Without Florence Griffith and Jackie Joyner Kersey, Jones would not have been where she was - the top.  

   Jones took advantage of all the glory while on steroids and did not have the heart to tell the truth and surrender the medals in 2000. She juiced the fame and fortune for what it was worth, and in the end, not only did she hurt herself but her teammates' name and reputation.

   Other countries will now look down on the United States as the cheating nation for Olympians. We as American people must get our reputation and honor back from this selfish, greedy, disgraced, jacked-up athlete who sat there and lied through her raggedy teeth. I have no remorse for Jones; this is worse than the Vick case. Hopefully Bonds will come clean "if" he used The Clear. Maybe we will have another Marion Jones episode coming soon to a television near you.