Jones wants investigation to go public and end soon

SAN FRANCISCO -- A defiant Marion Jones issued a plea Wednesday for a public hearing she hopes will clear her name amid drug allegations that could keep her out of the Athens Games.

The champion sprinter is one of the most prominent athletes who testified in a federal probe of a drug lab accused of illegally distributing steroids. She answered questions from a grand jury and the United States Anti-Doping Agency but remains under a cloud of suspicion less than two months before the games.

"If you can imagine what I've been through the last couple of months. ... I'm trying to make the U.S. Olympic team, and this is a constant distraction," Jones said. "I want this done today. I want this done yesterday. I want this done as soon as possible. ... I'm hoping to send a message to USADA that I want this done and I want my name cleared. I want to move on. What are we waiting for?"

Jones, America's best-known track star, called the news conference to express her frustration with the probe, which has already targeted several other Olympians and threatens to derail her career. Calling the agency a "kangaroo court," she repeated her claim that she has "never, ever used performance-enhancing drugs."

USADA is investigating Jones for possible violations of rules banning the drugs. She met with doping officials last month to discuss their evidence, and received a letter from the agency last week asking follow-up questions.

She said she wants a public hearing to ensure a fair process and that she would like to testify.

"If they're going to try to ban an athlete, then make it public," she said. "That's all I'm asking for."

The doping agency, however, said it would not provide special treatment for Jones by holding a hearing before possible arbitration.

"If Ms. Jones wants the truth to come out, then we share that goal," said Travis Tygart, USADA's director of legal affairs. "No athlete who has not engaged in doping behavior has any reason to fear, or otherwise avoid, the USADA process. No athlete is entitled to preferred treatment or will be allowed to circumvent that process."

Under federal law, USADA's process calls for a possible doping violation to be heard by an independent panel of arbitrators. An athlete can appeal the arbitrators' ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"Ms. Jones does not expect to go to arbitration for exoneration," said her attorney, Joseph Burton. "To participate in arbitration one would have to be charged. Rather than be charged, she should be exonerated now."

Jones was one of several dozen athletes who gave secret testimony last fall before a grand jury that ultimately indicted four men for allegedly distributing steroids to top athletes. The defendants include Victor Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, and Barry Bonds' personal trainer.

Jones wants prosecutors to release her grand jury testimony so she can pass it on to the USADA. She's also asked the USADA for help in getting the secret testimony released.

Jones did admit receiving ZMA -- a legal nutritional supplement -- from Conte from 1999-2001 in an arrangement through her training team. She stopped getting the supplement from Conte after divorcing C.J. Hunter, a former world champion shot putter who tested positive for steroids four times in 2000. She said she had no reason to believe that any substance she took had been tainted.

"At that time I took necessary steps to ensure I was doing what was right," said Jones, who won an unprecedented five track medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and hopes for similar success in Athens. "We sought out a company we thought was reputable."

Athletes who test positive for banned drugs are routinely barred from competition, but Conte's laboratory has presented the USADA with both an opportunity and a problem.

Doping officials apparently don't have positive drug tests for most of the Olympic hopefuls linked to the scandal, but they do have other evidence that allegedly describes the use of banned drugs -- such as dosing calendars, signed checks and personal e-mail.

At least four other athletes -- including the father of Jones' young son, 100-meter world record holder Tim Montgomery -- have been notified by the USADA that the agency is pursuing possible drug cases that could keep them out of the Athens Games.

Another athlete -- sprinter Kelli White -- has already accepted a ban after agency officials confronted her with their evidence.

In Jones' case, officials concede she has not tested positive -- but they also haven't cleared her.

The USADA is making cases using documents subpoenaed by the Senate Commerce Committee and then turned over to the agency.

Jones, meanwhile, also wants to testify before the same committee and clear her name. The committee hasn't scheduled any hearings, and has had no contact with Jones' team, committee spokeswoman Rebecca Fisher said.

Conte's attorney sent a letter Monday to President Bush, Attorney General John Ashcroft and three federal prosecutors seeking a plea deal that would keep him out of prison in exchange for testimony implicating potential Olympians.

Jones said what Conte might say doesn't worry her.

"If the truth is told," she said, "then my name will be cleared and I can move on with my life."