by Sheri Demarco

Created on: April 16, 2009

Marion Jones was sentenced to serve six months in jail on her first count and two more months on her second count ( which was in association with check fraud)to run concurrently and have two years of probation and community service for lying to federal prosecutors about her steroid use. She was not being sentenced for her steroid use. She was convicted for lying under oath. To many, this may seem deemed as unfair. To the law however, it seems to be justifiable.

In her defense she stated from 1999-2001 she was unaware of the fact she was taking any illicit drugs. She was told it was flax seed oil. However from 2001-2003(Sydney Olympics) she was fully aware she was taking performance drugs to help in her training and recovering activities. People lie for many different reasons. She did take various blood tests..one was positive one was negative..during the time of the original investigation.

The check fraud scandal, Marion Jones admits to lying about her involvement in the Montgomery scheme where millions of dollars were forged in a check scam by her former coach,Steve Riddick and former agent, Charles Wells. These two men are currently serving time for this crime.

Marion Jones has made pubic apologizes to her fans and family. Marion pleaded with the judge not to send her to prison. She did not want to be separate from her boys. Unfortunately her pleads fell upon deaf ears. She did however express she wanted to start her sentence immediately.

Marion Jones was stripped of her medals and of her freedom. She was an athlete that many young athletes looked up to. Marion Jones going to prison for lying under oath is exactly what needed to happen. Famous Athlete, Olympian or Movie Star, if you break the law, you should be punish and fined just like every other citizen.

Marion Jones was a woman who actually made her life long dream come true. Now it is going to take a life time to get back the respect she once had in her community. One has to ask one self..is lying worth it? We have laws for a reason. From where I am sitting it is probably easier said than done. The whole truth and nothing but the truth should have been taken verbatim. The only people who got hurt from Marion Jones lies this time.. was Marion Jones and her family. She did not protect them She was selfish enough to think she was above the law. Now she will have six months to think about how foolish she really was.

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