Jones could be stripped of five medals from 2000 Olympics

INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has set up a disciplinary commission to investigate allegations against US sprinter Marion Jones.

These procedures could eventually see her stripped of her five medals from the 2000 Olympics.

Mr Rogge’s commission will look into claims made by Victor Conte, head of the California-based lab accused of illegally distributing steroids. Conte has claimed he gave Jones performance-enhancing drugs before and after the Sydney Olympics. He said he watched Jones inject herself with human growth hormone.

“The allegations made by Mr Conte are extremely serious and the IOC is fully committed to bringing to light any elements that will help the truth prevail,” the IOC said in a statement.

Jones won three gold and two bronze track and field medals in Sydney. She repeatedly has denied ever using banned drugs, and has threatened to sue Conte for defamation. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Dick Pound, a senior IOC member, has said Jones medals should be stripped if Conte is telling the truth. Any decision on the medals would be made by the IOC executive board.

Rogge said it was too early to speculate about revoking the medals. “I hope the truth will emerge,” he said. “We want the truth. We want to know what happened and the more we know, the better.”

Whether the medals can be stripped could depend on an interpretation of the IOC’s rule on statute of limitations.

Under the IOC charter, Olympic decisions can be challenged within three years of the games’ closing ceremony.

The Sydney Olympics ended more than four years ago, on October 1, 2000.

“We will find a way to deal with that,” Pound said.

“It’s arguable there was no decision taken, just a list of results. So you’re not challenging a decision.”