by Marion Plouet

Created on: June 09, 2009

Is it fair to send Olympic track star Marion Jones to jail for steroid use?

It may not be an easy decision, because yes, it was not a life threatening crime and no one got hurt for it. However, it was fraud, and it was misleading. A victory won by cheating is not a deserved victory, and it's a steal to someone who really deserved it.

If you are caught cheating at school or college, you will be exposed and face expulsion. It will go on your file. Now this may not deserve prison. What has to be remembered in the precise case is that steroids are drugs. It's illegal to use, especially on big international events where you know you can be tested I believe it's stupid to use. To make matters worse, she had to lie about using them. Of course you will be a star when you have a substance boosting your abilities!

So what is the crime here? One - there is the use of drugs, Two - there is the illegality of it on the sport scene, and Three - there is the lie. A undeserving multiple winner now has to face up her acts. Maybe with such an example others will decide to respect the rules, and accept that whatever the price, they may not always be the price. And guess what, loosing honestly seems to be more rewarding than winning dishonestly... What do you think?

So yes, prison may be a bit harsh, but there are rules to respect. Would we be having the same debate if someone had been committing the same fraud but on an unadvertised scale? Imagine that John Doe does exactly the same thing for the annual competition of Gilbert, Arizona, High school, or Paisley, Scotland, college.... It would not be advertise, and we would not be asking the question is that fair? What is fair is that you have been caught cheating, and you get the punishment that goes with it. It just looks like she could be the one making the example for others not to follow!

Furthermore, I believe it's important to remind that the Olympics is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, sports event in the World. It's a pleasure to watch for most, and everyone has a nation to support. Weren't you desappointed when the results came out? After watching her, and admiring her? This cheating was not only against her competitors. She cheated everyone who was supporting her. Everyone supporting a nation at the Olympics feels like a medal is theirs. So what to feel like when you realise that your star performer has defeated you, as faked the medal(s) you thought you had won?

You support your sportsmen/women, and you are so amased with what they are capable of doing. All this to discover that you were lured by a drug substance that actually made it all look good for a victory that might have been deserved, but that you will never know.

I will understand that some may think that even if this is reprehensible this does not deserve prison. Personally, I do, though not a long stay... it's a question of fairness. You commit a crime, you pay for your crime.

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