Jones hopes to avoid prison sentence
Former Olympic champion Marion Jones said she has been punished enough and should not have to go to prison for lying about steroids and check fraud.
In court papers filed on New Year’s Eve, Jones’ lawyers asked a federal judge in White Plains, N.Y., to let her off with probation when he sentences her next week.
“She has been cast from American hero to national disgrace,” the memo said. “The public scorn, from a nation that once adored her, and her fall from grace have been severe punishments. … She has been stripped of her gold medals, her accomplishments, her wealth and her public standing.”
Jones admitted in court in October that she lied to federal investigators. Outside court, the former track and field star announced her retirement and said through tears, “It’s with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust.”
She has since relinquished her five Olympic medals.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors suggested she be sentenced to six months in prison at most. In pre-sentencing papers filed Dec. 21, prosecutors said anything between no time and six months would be appropriate.
•Olympic champion sprinter Justin Gatlin will challenge his four-year doping suspension and may take the case to federal court.
A three-member arbitration panel voted 2-1 to suspend Gatlin, who faced a possible eight-year ban for his second doping offense, in a 53-page ruling released Tuesday.
Under the panel’s ruling, Gatlin would be eligible to run May 25, 2010. That would prevent him from defending his 100-meter title at the Beijing Olympics this August.
If the sprinter can get his first offense erased, it likely would result in a two-year ban that would expire this May, a month before the U.S. Olympic trials.
College football
Charles opts for NFL
Texas junior running back Jamaal Charles, who rushed for 1,619 yards this season, announced he will leave the Longhorns to enter the NFL draft.
•Boise State junior offensive lineman Ryan Clady said he will leave school early to enter the NFL draft.
Hockey
Canada advances
Canada rallied to beat Finland 4-2 to reach the semifinals of the world junior hockey championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic, and keep alive its bid for a fourth straight title, while Russia defeated the Czech Republic 4-1 in the other quarterfinal.
Canada will play the United States in one semifinal Friday and Sweden will play Russia.
Tennis
U.S. in Hopman final
Serena Williams beat Alicia Molik 6-2, 7-6 (7) at Perth, Australia, to give the United States a 1-0 lead over Australia, guaranteeing the Americans a spot in the Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis final on Friday.
The U.S. entered Thursday’s match with a 2-0 round-robin record and 5-1 in overall matches in Group B, and was the only unbeaten team.