justinevans
08/18/06, 05:38 PM
ESPN The Magazine's Shaun Assael and the Washington Post are reporting that U.S. sprinter Marion Jones has failed a drug test, according to sources with knowledge of the test results.
The five-time Olympic medalist's "A" sample tested positive for a banned performance-enhancer at the event in Indianapolis, the Washington Post reported Friday night on its Web site, citing people with knowledge of the results who were not identified.
Testing on Jones' second urine sample has not been completed, the sources told the paper. Jones would only be charged with a doping violation -- and face a two-year ban from track and field -- if the "B" sample also turns up positive.
A person familiar with the results told the Post that the substance was erythropoietin, or EPO, a banned performance-enhancer that boosts endurance.
Earlier Friday, Jones withdrew from the Weltklasse Golden League meet, citing "personal reasons."
Meet director Hans Jeorg Wirz said Jones received a morning telephone call from the United States that prompted her decision. No further details were given.
Steve Riddick, Jones' coach, told ESPN.com's Mike Fish by phone in Norfolk, Va., that he was surprised she was not running in Zurich.
"From what I gather it is some personal family matters. I'm not sure if her mother is ill. I know her son is OK. Charlie says it is a personal family matter," Riddick said. "Me, I'm a two-year-old coach with her so I don't go too far into detail.
"I haven't talked to her," Riddick said. "I know when she landed, she just sent me a little note that said, 'I just landed. I'll give you a call later. I'm OK.' That is all she said. I'm just the coach. If she wanted to tell me more she will. I don't push it. I really don't have a clue."
"She had some personal reasons that she had to go home. That is it," said Charlie Wells, Jones' manager, by phone from Zurich.
Asked if it was an illness, Wells said. "Don't know. That is all that is to it."
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Terry Madden declined comment to the Post. Spokesmen for USA Track and Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee also declined comment to the Post.
The five-time Olympic medalist has raced five times in Europe this season, winning the 100 meters in Paris and Lausanne. She had been set to race in Zurich for the first time in two years after having been snubbed by the meet for her connection to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid scandal.
She was not invited to this year's Golden League final in Berlin on Sept. 3 because of links to her former coach Trevor Graham, who is under investigation by track and field's ruling body and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Other athletes who trained under Graham were also not invited.
Graham is the coach of Olympic and world 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin, who faces a possible lifetime ban after failing a drug test in April.
Jones denies ever using banned substances.
Since winning three gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 30-year-old star has struggled. Her career best of 10.65 seconds in the 100 was in 1998. Her time of 10.91 at the Golden Gala meet in Rome last month was her fastest race in four years.
The five-time Olympic medalist's "A" sample tested positive for a banned performance-enhancer at the event in Indianapolis, the Washington Post reported Friday night on its Web site, citing people with knowledge of the results who were not identified.
Testing on Jones' second urine sample has not been completed, the sources told the paper. Jones would only be charged with a doping violation -- and face a two-year ban from track and field -- if the "B" sample also turns up positive.
A person familiar with the results told the Post that the substance was erythropoietin, or EPO, a banned performance-enhancer that boosts endurance.
Earlier Friday, Jones withdrew from the Weltklasse Golden League meet, citing "personal reasons."
Meet director Hans Jeorg Wirz said Jones received a morning telephone call from the United States that prompted her decision. No further details were given.
Steve Riddick, Jones' coach, told ESPN.com's Mike Fish by phone in Norfolk, Va., that he was surprised she was not running in Zurich.
"From what I gather it is some personal family matters. I'm not sure if her mother is ill. I know her son is OK. Charlie says it is a personal family matter," Riddick said. "Me, I'm a two-year-old coach with her so I don't go too far into detail.
"I haven't talked to her," Riddick said. "I know when she landed, she just sent me a little note that said, 'I just landed. I'll give you a call later. I'm OK.' That is all she said. I'm just the coach. If she wanted to tell me more she will. I don't push it. I really don't have a clue."
"She had some personal reasons that she had to go home. That is it," said Charlie Wells, Jones' manager, by phone from Zurich.
Asked if it was an illness, Wells said. "Don't know. That is all that is to it."
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Terry Madden declined comment to the Post. Spokesmen for USA Track and Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee also declined comment to the Post.
The five-time Olympic medalist has raced five times in Europe this season, winning the 100 meters in Paris and Lausanne. She had been set to race in Zurich for the first time in two years after having been snubbed by the meet for her connection to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid scandal.
She was not invited to this year's Golden League final in Berlin on Sept. 3 because of links to her former coach Trevor Graham, who is under investigation by track and field's ruling body and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Other athletes who trained under Graham were also not invited.
Graham is the coach of Olympic and world 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin, who faces a possible lifetime ban after failing a drug test in April.
Jones denies ever using banned substances.
Since winning three gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 30-year-old star has struggled. Her career best of 10.65 seconds in the 100 was in 1998. Her time of 10.91 at the Golden Gala meet in Rome last month was her fastest race in four years.