Jones denies using performance-enhancing drugs

Marion Jones has denied new allegations she has used performance-enhancing drugs.

The accusations were levelled by Victor Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), the firm at the centre of the biggest doping scandal in sporting history.

The steroid distribution case has implicated a range of sports including baseball, cycling and, most of all, athletics, since the discovery of the previously undetectable drug tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) late last year.

But the case really erupted when the United States Anti-Doping Agency accused BALCO of being the source of THG.

Conte, who is likely to face trial in March along with three other men on charges of distributing illegal steroids and money laundering, made the accusations on ABC television’s 20-20 news programme to be aired tonight, saying: “I have too much information to go quietly.”

A preview of the interview with Conte shown on Thursday alleges he supplied Jones, the double Olympic sprint gold-medallist, with prohibited drugs prior to the 2000 Games.

Conte claims he instructed Jones and then watched her inject herself in the leg, before she went on to win three gold and two bronze medals in Sydney.

However, Jones’ lawyer Richard Nicholls responded by vehemently denying the claims and pointed the finger instead at Conte.

He told BBC Sport: “Marion has steadfastly maintained her position throughout: she has never, ever used performance-enhancing drugs.

“Victor Conte is a man facing a 42-count federal indictment. Mr Conte’s statements have been wildly contradictory.

“Mr Conte is simply not credible. We challenge him to submit to the same lie detector procedure that Marion Jones passed.”

Jones has found herself embroiled in the BALCO scandal but has consistently denied ever taking illegal substances – although she has praised a zinc supplement marketed by Conte. She has never failed a drugs test but this is no longer a fail-safe defence.

Jones’ partner Tim Montgomery, the 100m record holder, and Chryste Gaines could both face lifetime bans after being charged because of information gleaned from materials taken in raids on BALCO – not because of positive tests.

An International Association of Athletic Federations spokesman said the world governing body will closely watch Friday’s programme.

The allegations come at an inopportune time with the IAAF holding its council meeting in Helsinki this weekend whilst in Portland, Ohio, United States Track and Field has already begun its annual meeting.

“We are taking seriously any charges where an athlete is accused of a doping offence,” said IAAF communications director Nick Davies. “But we would need to see the programme before offering any further comment.

“Then if it is felt there is case to answer, it would be for its national governing body (USA Track and Field) to take the appropriate disciplinary action.”

Jones has constantly declared she is a clean athlete and last June at the Ostrava Super Grand Prix meeting vehemently denied ever using drugs in her star-studded career.

Jones, at a press conference, insisted: “I have never accepted, nor taken, nor have been offered any performance-enhancing drugs, by anyone.”