Jones wants public hearing on drug allegations
A defiant Marion Jones issued a plea Wednesday for a public hearing she hopes will clear her name amid drug allegations that could keep her out of the Athens Games.
The champion sprinter is one of the most prominent athletes who testified in a federal probe of a drug lab accused of illegally distributing steroids. She answered questions from a grand jury and the United States Anti-Doping Agency but remains under a cloud of suspicion less than two months before the games.
“If you can imagine what I’ve been through the last couple of months. … I’m trying to make the U.S. Olympic team and this is a constant distraction,” Jones said. “I want this done today. I want this done yesterday. I want this done as soon as possible. … I’m hoping to send a message to USADA that I want this done and I want my name cleared. I want to move on. What are we waiting for?”
Jones, America’s best-known track star, called the news conference to express her frustration with the probe, which has already targeted several other Olympians and threatens to derail her career. Calling the agency a “kangaroo court,” she repeated her claim that she has “never, ever used performance-enhancing drugs.”
USADA is investigating Jones for possible violations of rules banning the drugs. She met with doping officials last month to discuss their evidence, and received a letter from the agency last week asking follow-up questions.
She said she wants a public hearing to ensure a fair process and that she would like to testify.
“If they’re going to try to ban an athlete, then make it public,” she said. “That’s all I’m asking for.”
The doping agency, however, said it would not provide special treatment for Jones by holding a hearing before possible arbitration.
Under federal law, USADA’s process calls for a possible doping violation to be heard by an independent panel of arbitrators. An athlete can appeal the arbitrators’ ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Torch begins U.S. journey in L.A.
Sylvester Stallone kicked off a star-studded Olympic torch relay run through the streets of Los Angeles, taking the flame from Mayor James Hahn as the theme from his signature movie “Rocky” blared in the background.
After a quick trot across Venice Beach to the ocean, the actor set off toward Santa Monica, where he handed the flame over to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. That began a relay through Los Angeles communities rich and poor, including Westwood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Koreatown and Boyle Heights, culminating at Dodger Stadium.
Decked out in shorts and a blue-and-white T-shirt with a laurel wreath on the front, Stallone was the first of nearly 150 runners carrying the flame toward Dodger Stadium, each one using their torch to ignite one held by the next runner.
Carriers included everyday folks as well as celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres and Tom Cruise and Olympic stars like Janet Evans and Rafer Johnson.
Los Angeles hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984.
The flame’s 46,800-mile journey began June 4. It passed through Africa and South America for the first time. The relay will make a final trip around Greece before arriving in Athens for the opening Aug. 13.
Bruckner’s sights set on Athens
The bump on her right ankle was there for months, yet Kimberly Bruckner saw no cause for alarm. She was winning races, wasn’t in pain and was moving toward her Olympic cycling goal.
After winning the women’s time trial gold medal at last year’s Pan American Games, she finally had time to have the bump examined by doctors. They found a tumor, removed it a day later, and by week’s end Bruckner was back on her training bike and finalizing wedding plans. Then the phone rang. The bump was cancer.
The scare was just that — a scare. Doctors determined Bruckner’s cancer was confined to her ankle, and have deemed her healthy. Now, she’s a favorite in today’s 24-kilometer U.S. Olympic road cycling time trial, with the winner guaranteed a spot on the team headed to Athens.
Most top women cyclists will compete in the trials, including Mari Holden, a five-time national time trial champion who won both a world championship and an Olympic silver medal in 2000.Bruckner, the three-time defending national time trial champion, missed last year’s world championships following the September surgery that essentially rebuilt her ankle with new muscle and skin. Her wedding to American rider Chris Baldwin went off as scheduled last October, and she was back on her bike Nov. 1.
Texas sprinter Richards to turn pro
Rising star Sanya Richards is leaving the University of Texas track and field team after two seasons to turn pro and concentrate on making this year’s Olympic team.
“I feel it’s the perfect time to take this to the next level,” Richards said. “It’s an Olympic year and I think I can be competitive if I stay extremely focused. Coming out and making this my career and something I can put all my energy into will lead to the best and greatest success for me.”
Richards, the reigning U.S. champion in the 400 meters, is one of America’s rising young stars and was already considered a safe bet to make the U.S. Olympic team for Athens later this summer.
By turning pro, she opens the door for lucrative endorsement contracts, appearance fees and prize money. She hasn’t signed with an agent or shoe company yet. Richards will continue her studies at Texas to work toward a degree in business.
At 19, Richards already has some top international experience. She anchored Team USA’s gold medal-winning run in the 1,600 relay at the 2003 world championships.
Richards will continue to train in Austin with Texas coach Bev Kearney before the Olympic trials begin July 9 in Sacramento, Calif.
“I have no doubt she’ll be successful,” Kearney said. “Her dream is to be an Olympian, whether it’s in a Texas uniform or in a shoe company’s uniform.”