Saturday, August 19, 2006
Marion tests positive!!
So after all was said and done, Marion Jones proves what many had suspected for long: that she was using performance enhancing drugs. At this point, it doesn't even warrant much attention any more. Track & Field athletes complain about the lack of recognition they get compared to other sports and its no wonder why. The sport is completely immersed in the use of drugs as a cheating mechanism to gain an edge over competitors. No one is beyond suspicion, and it's been proved that more often than not, those suspected were warranted.
As a former sprinter (I raced in high school in Nigeria where we didnt have weights and other equipment to increase our performance besides our natural talent), I cannot phathom how she would still feel the need to take EPO under the cloud of suspicion that she was. If there was any one who had a zero margin of error, it was Jones. So why risk whatever comeback attempt you had in you? why risk whatever legacy and integrity you might have built in your short reign as the queen of track?
Well, the optimistic side of me says let's wait until the "B" sample comes out, maybe, just maybe, she might be cleared of any wrongdoing. But does it really matter? Does it matter if it comes out negative? Her reputation as a clean runner was damaged by her ex-husband C.J. Walker, and her ex-boyfriend and father of her son Tim Montgomery, both of whom were banned for using steroids. But now, she has put the stamp that helped mail her conviction letter. She has destroyed her image and everything she stood for. What little fanbase she had has no doubt been erased, thanks to her betrayal.
If her second test comes back positive, Marion would receive a two-year suspension since she has no prior positive tests. It means she can still be eligible to make a comeback. The question is, do you want her back? We all root for the comeback kings and queens of this world. But, not in this situation. Never has a banned athlete come back to reach the top of his or her event in track & field, so why expect Jones to achieve this feat? Besides, coming back wouldn't help squash any more rumors about drug use, which only tarnishes the image of the sport further.
Jones has nothing more to offer track & field and the sport has nothing left to offer her. She's made quite a bit of money from it and endorsements that she can live off of. She should quietly retire out of the limelight.
As a former sprinter (I raced in high school in Nigeria where we didnt have weights and other equipment to increase our performance besides our natural talent), I cannot phathom how she would still feel the need to take EPO under the cloud of suspicion that she was. If there was any one who had a zero margin of error, it was Jones. So why risk whatever comeback attempt you had in you? why risk whatever legacy and integrity you might have built in your short reign as the queen of track?
Well, the optimistic side of me says let's wait until the "B" sample comes out, maybe, just maybe, she might be cleared of any wrongdoing. But does it really matter? Does it matter if it comes out negative? Her reputation as a clean runner was damaged by her ex-husband C.J. Walker, and her ex-boyfriend and father of her son Tim Montgomery, both of whom were banned for using steroids. But now, she has put the stamp that helped mail her conviction letter. She has destroyed her image and everything she stood for. What little fanbase she had has no doubt been erased, thanks to her betrayal.
If her second test comes back positive, Marion would receive a two-year suspension since she has no prior positive tests. It means she can still be eligible to make a comeback. The question is, do you want her back? We all root for the comeback kings and queens of this world. But, not in this situation. Never has a banned athlete come back to reach the top of his or her event in track & field, so why expect Jones to achieve this feat? Besides, coming back wouldn't help squash any more rumors about drug use, which only tarnishes the image of the sport further.
Jones has nothing more to offer track & field and the sport has nothing left to offer her. She's made quite a bit of money from it and endorsements that she can live off of. She should quietly retire out of the limelight.
