Marion Jones sentence- harsh or fair?

G man
G man Posts: 57
edited January 2008 in Pro race
Marion Jones has been jailed for 6 months for lying to federal prosecutors regarding doping. Harsh or fair? Does anyone think this will dissuade cyclists caught doping from pursuing ridiculous appeals?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/01/11/jones.doping/index.html

G man
A Bradley Wiggins fan
respectez le bitumen

Comments

  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    No it won't deter cyclists from doping because very few doping cases ever end up in a criminal court. Marion Jones was convicted of perjury, not using banned drugs - the fact that she admitted using steroids was of secondary importance to the actual case.
  • ricadus
    ricadus Posts: 2,379
    Does she get to keep all her money though?
    Tour de France
  • ian222
    ian222 Posts: 95
    This may tip the scales in favour of the people trying to clean up all sports against performance enhancing drugs in sport. Lying and denial will be exposed eventually.

    I think this is a positive step and I have no sympathy for her.
    www.dialledbikes.com
    www.nps4x.com
    www.braintreebmx.co.uk
  • drenkrom
    drenkrom Posts: 1,062
    I think all this sentence says is "When the badge says FBI, don't lie". Martha Stewart learned a little something about that, too. It really hasn't deterred her admirers, whom you'd imagine have stricter morals than hardcore track fans. I think this is a very just sentence, as it's purely federal law being acted out. It really has nothing to do with the "Fight on Doping"(TM), though. Whatever you may be talking about with them, don't lie to FBI agents! And I doubt this will stop NBC from airing touchy-feely capsules about her with grandiose symphonic music in the background during the next Olympics. I'd love to be proven wrong there.
  • richa
    richa Posts: 1,632
    ricadus wrote:
    Does she get to keep all her money though?

    Don't think so. I believe she is now down to her last few dollars.
    Rich
  • rdaviesb
    rdaviesb Posts: 566
    Fair, and I think it will be a reasonable deterrent. If not, just racking up the sentence for the next couple of offenders will do the trick.
  • dave_1
    dave_1 Posts: 9,512
    Jail sentences are the way to go....Marion Jones should serve as a reminder to other famous American sportsmen we know well...you'll go to jail if you deny
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBacb2V ... ata_player
  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    rdaviesb wrote:
    Fair, and I think it will be a reasonable deterrent. If not, just racking up the sentence for the next couple of offenders will do the trick.

    Lying Cow........oh they struck out my word .... bi....t...ch (try that)
    I think it was an untruth in a Court room and therefore called contempt of court.
    Tell the FBI and police any lies you like ( I've learned that is what I should have done) as you can say "Not Guilty" in the courtroom even if it is a lie.

    What I pray for is that Carl Lewis gets caught. (even lindford christie)
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    yes I think the more serious offence was lying in Court not the drugs offence. :?
  • grimpeur
    grimpeur Posts: 230
    I don't think it will be a good deterrent in the same way that jail or even the death sentence is not a real deterrent to crime.

    Quite simply, no one believes they will ever be caught.

    Having said that, the only deterrent I believe might have a chance of working is if an Athlete has a clause in their contract with team and sponsors that they must pay back a significant portion of their earnings if found to be doping. Implementing this however is a pipe dream as would be legally extremely difficult to enforce.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Dave_1 wrote:
    Jail sentences are the way to go....Marion Jones should serve as a reminder to other famous American sportsmen we know well...you'll go to jail if you deny

    Even if innocent?
    Bit harsh.
  • OffTheBackAdam
    OffTheBackAdam Posts: 1,869
    The worrying bit is that she's passed every dope test she's taken, so she's being banged-up for perjury rather than doping.
    Her use of illegal performance-enhancing substances has always been believed since her previous husband got testedpositive for steroids.
    Her programme was obviously better than his! :roll:
    Remember that you are an Englishman and thus have won first prize in the lottery of life.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Actually, her sentence was based on two charges.

    1. She committed perjury in giving evidence during the Balco case

    2. she was involved in a cheque fraud/counterfeiting scheme

    The Court wasn't really bothered about the doping offences since the real offences were actually a lot more serious. So yes, she deserved all she got and her legal fees will prob. be enormous. But, 6 months inside and then tears on Oprah, a best selling book and a regular slot on TV at athletics meets and she'll be back in business :(
    M.Rushton
  • skavanagh.bikeradar
    skavanagh.bikeradar Posts: 1,097
    Well, maybe, but her reputation is in tatters worldwide - considering she was the darling of the athletic world that's quite a fall.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Dave_1 wrote:
    Jail sentences are the way to go....Marion Jones should serve as a reminder to other famous American sportsmen we know well...you'll go to jail if you deny

    If it's a legal thing getting a conviction will be even more difficult than it is now. Some lawyers who had a look at the Landis case in some legal journal in the US said it wouldn't stand up in a court of law. Fine for an ADA case but legally probably wouldn't even get to trial.

    Maybe that's what needs to happen to get everyone to up their game.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.

Categories