USA: ATHLETICS: United States Olympic Committee apologises to organisers and competitors of 2000 Sydney Olympics after Marion Jones admits to steroid use

The United States' Olympic chief on Monday (October 8) apologised to the organisers and competitors of the 2000 Sydney Games after winner of five medals Marion Jones admitted to using steroids. "We have written a letter of sincere and humble apology to the 205 national Olympic committees and in addition, a more extensive letter to the people in Australia, apologising to the organisers, the volunteers and the Australian people," said United States Olympic Committee (USOC) chairman Peter Ueberroth in a teleconference. "This event should not be tarnished by what has happened," he added. Ueberroth said the USOC "sincerely apologised to athletes denied a podium place and denied the chance to hear their national anthem and see their flags." Jones won five medals in Sydney -- three of them gold including the prestigious 100 metres. After confessing that she lied about her steroid use, Jones handed back her medals on Monday. The USOC chairman said his organisation was making a pledge that the U.S team would be drug-free at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. "We pledge that the 2008 Olympic team will be completely clean -- that is our pledge," he said. "There is never any absolute guarantee but that is our pledge...it is our clear endeavour and absolute priority." The USOC has also asked the other athletes who were in Jones's relays to hand back their medals. "We do not think that the relay medals were won fairly and we urge the athletes to return their medals," said Ueberroth. Ueberroth said that the USOC did not have the power to force the athletes to return the medals because the issue was within the sole jurisdiction of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "We don't have jurisdiction in that matter. If we did, we would be on the side of returning the medals," said Ueberroth. The U.S won gold in the 4x400 metres relay at the Sydney Games ahead of Jamaica, with Russia third and Nigeria fourth. In addition to Jones, the team included Jearl Miles-Clark, Monique Hennagan and LaTash Colander. Jones also helped the U.S win bronze in the 4x100 relay, behind Bahamas and Jamaica and ahead of France. Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards and Nanceen Perry were the other members of the team.

ITN Source | October 10, 2007

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