American athlete Marion Jones tests positive for EPO
{{date|August 20, 2006}}
{{Correction|date=January 23, 2006|explanation=Cyclist Floyd Landis failed a drugs test for the hormone testesterone, not adrenaline as reported in the article.}}

Track star {{w|Marion Jones|Marion Jones}}, winner of 3 gold medals in the {{w|2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney Olympics}}, has tested positive for the performance enhancing drug, {{w|Erythropoietin|EPO}}. The hormone helps create extra red blood cells which allows the user's body to absorb extra oxygen.  

Jones was expected to compete in yesterday's {{w|IAAF Golden League|Golden League}} meet in [[Zurich|Zurich]], [[Switzerland|Switzerland]], but left early in the morning for "personal reasons." It was announced earlier today (UTC) that she had tested positive for EPO. Jones faces a two year ban if her B test sample comes back positive.

Jones has a history of association with steroid users and dealers. In 1999, her then husband {{w|CJ Hunter|CJ Hunter}} tested positive for a similar drug, {{w|Nandralone|nandralone}}. He had to withdraw from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and received a two year ban.  

Jones later divorced him, and in 2002 started a relationship with another track star, {{w|Tim Montgomery|Tim Montgomery}}, who were both coached by {{w|Trevor Grahm|Trevor Grahm}}.

Montgomery set a record in the {{w|100 metres|100 meter sprint}} of 9.78 seconds at a race in Paris that year. He was banned for two years and stripped of his record due to evidence in the Federal [[W:BALCO|BALCO]] investigation. In the BALCO investigation, several witnesses stated that Marion Jones was taking banned substances received from BALCO. 

Jones' coach, Grahm, has been involved with 10 other athletes that tested positive and were ultimately banned for the use of illegal substances. {{w|Justin Gatlin|Justin Gatlin}}, also coached by Grahm, also tested positive for artificial Testosterone, but has not been banned or stripped of his record. 

Another American athlete, cyclist Floyd Landis tested positive for excessive levels of adrenaline after winning the Tour-de-France, which may lead to him being the first winner in the tournament's history to be stripped of the title. 

== Related news ==

*{{wikinews|title=American cyclist Floyd Landis tested positive for excessive levels of testosterone in second test|date=August 6, 2006}}

== Sources ==
{{wikipediapars|[[w:Nandrolone|Nandrolone]], [[w:Game of Shadows|''Game of Shadows'']], [[w:Justin Gatlin|Justin Gatlin]], and [[w:IAAF Golden League|IAAF Golden League]]}}
*{{source|url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/athletics/story/0,,1853880,00.html
|title=Marion Jones tests positive for EPO
|author=Duncan Mackay
|pub=Guardian Unlimited
|date=August 19 2006}}

== External links ==

*{{source|url=http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/epo.html
|title=Erythropoietin
|author=Mark Jenkins
|pub=Rice University
|date=2005}}

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[[Category:athletics]]
[[category:Sports]]
[[Category:Belize]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Central America]]
[[Category:IAAF]]
[[Category:Floyd Landis]]

[[de:Sprinterin Marion Jones anscheinend gedopt]]
Track star Marion Jones, winner of 3 gold medals in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has tested positive for the performance enhancing drug, EPO. The hormone helps create extra red blood cells which allows the user's body to absorb extra oxygen.  

Jones was expected to compete in yesterday's Golden League meet in Zurich, Switzerland, but left early in the morning for "personal reasons." It was announced earlier today (UTC) that she had tested positive for EPO. Jones faces a two year ban if her B test sample comes back positive.

Jones has a history of association with steroid users and dealers. In 1999, her then husband CJ Hunter tested positive for a similar drug, nandralone. He had to withdraw from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and received a two year ban.  

Jones later divorced him, and in 2002 started a relationship with another track star, Tim Montgomery, who were both coached by Trevor Grahm.

Montgomery set a record in the 100 meter sprint of 9.78 seconds at a race in Paris that year. He was banned for two years and stripped of his record due to evidence in the Federal BALCO investigation. In the BALCO investigation, several witnesses stated that Marion Jones was taking banned substances received from BALCO. 

Jones' coach, Grahm, has been involved with 10 other athletes that tested positive and were ultimately banned for the use of illegal substances. Justin Gatlin, also coached by Grahm, also tested positive for artificial Testosterone, but has not been banned or stripped of his record. 

Another American athlete, cyclist Floyd Landis tested positive for excessive levels of adrenaline after winning the Tour-de-France, which may lead to him being the first winner in the tournament's history to be stripped of the title. 


category:Sports
athletics Belize United States North America Central America IAAF Floyd Landis