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Attorneys: Jones' 'B' Sample Tests Negative

Sep 7, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. — The backup drug test for sprinter Marion Jones came back negative, clearing the five-time Olympic champion of doping allegations that have dogged her for the past month, her attorneys said Wednesday night.

"I am absolutely ecstatic," Jones said in a statement released by her lawyers. "I have always maintained that I have never ever taken performance enhancing drugs, and I am pleased that a scientific process has now demonstrated that fact."

Howard Jacobs, the expert lawyer who represented Jones, said he was pleased with the result.

"The scientific part of the testing protocols worked, but it is unfortunate that because of the 'leak' of the 'A' sample results, Marion was wrongfully accused of a doping violation and her reputation was unfairly questioned,'' Jacobs said.

"The 'B' sample did not confirm the 'A' positive result and Marion is now free to compete,'' he said.

Jones tested positive for the banned endurance enhancer EPO on June 23. She withdrew from a meet in Switzerland last month and shortly after that, reports of a positive test were revealed.

The backup test, conducted at the same UCLA lab using the same sample, came back negative, however, meaning the 30-year-old sprinter has been cleared of any wrongdoing. She faced a minimum two-year ban.

Jones, who lives in the Raleigh area, won five Olympic medals at the 2000 Sydney Games, including golds in the 100 and 200 meters and 4x400 meters relay.

She dominated sprinting in the late 1990s and early this decade while coached by Trevor Graham, who is currently under investigation for alleged doping by other athletes he's coached.