Jones suffers Olympics blow

Marion Jones will not be defending her Olympic 100 metres title in Athens next month after failing to make the American team at the US trials in Sacramento, California.

Jones, who won gold in the 100m and 200m four years ago in Sydney, had won her semi-final in 11.14 seconds earlier in the afternoon at the Alex G Spanos Sports Complex but failed to make an impression more than two hours later.

Clocking the same time as in the semi, Jones finished fifth as LaTasha Colander ran a personal best 10.97 to win the final.

She will be joined in the Olympic team by runner-up Torri Edwards, who ran a season’s best 11.02, and 20-year-old US collegiate champion Lauryn Williams (11.10).

After months in the media spotlight since testifying to a federal grand jury investigating the BALCO doping scandal and still under investigation, though as yet not charged, by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Jones refused to speak to the media following the final.

She was whisked away from the track by her bodyguards and climbed in to a golf cart outside the stadium when she told reporters: “When I talk to you guys you have something negative to say; when I don’t talk to you guys you have something negative to say.

“I’d much rather not talk and spend time with my son (instead) if you guys have negative things to say. So have a nice day.”