Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Marion Jones Reports to Jail

Former Olympic medalist starts 6-month sentence

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 8, 2008 6:09 AM CST

(Newser) – Marion Jones has entered a federal prison in Texas, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The disgraced former sprinter is beginning a 6-month sentence for lying to investigators about her use of performance-enhancing drugs and about her role in a check-fraud scam. She has already returned her Olympic gold medals and her name has been removed from the record books.

Jones was once the most famous female in the world but fell spectacularly from grace after admitting steroid use. The judge who put her away refused to hand down a probation-only sentence, saying her behavior affected "the integrity of athletic competition." She is expected to serve her time in the prison's minimum-security unit, and will be on probation for two years after her release.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

Former Olympic champion Marion Jones holds her head as she leaves federal court in White Plains, N.Y. with her husband, Obadele Thompson, in this Jan. 11, 2008 file photo. The former Olympic track gold... (Associated Press)

Disgraced former Olympic champion Marion Jones leaves after being sentenced at the Westchester County Federal Courthouse Friday, Jan. 11, 2008 in White Plains, N.Y. Jones was sentenced to six months... (Associated Press)

American athlete Marion Jones holds up her five Olympic medals for track and field events outside Sydney's Opera House in Australia, in this Oct. 1, 2000 file photo. The IOC formally stripped Marion... (Associated Press)

Marion Jones holds up her five Olympic medals for track and field events in central Sydney, Australia, in this Oct. 1, 2000 file photo. Jones was sentenced Friday Jan. 11, 2008 in federal court in White... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Marion Jones sentenced to prison for lying about steroid use (wavy (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Marion Jones Falls Further

Shamed sprinter's records to be taken off books

(NEWSER) - Disgraced sprinter Marion Jones will have her results in races dating back to September 2000 wiped from the record books, reports the AP, under orders from track and field's world governing body. She's also been ordered to give back $700,000 in prize money. The IAAF council decided to retroactively disqualify Jones from all competitions in the last seven years. More»

Judge Sends Jones to Slammer

Disgraced runner draws maximum sentence recommended in plea deal

(NEWSER) - A federal judge threw the book at Marion Jones today, sentencing the disgraced Olympian to 6 months in prison for lying about steroid use and participating in a check-fraud scam. Jones begged the judge not to separate her from her family, and prosecutors said they were okay with a zero-month sentence. Instead, the judge gave her the maximum sentence recommended in her plea deal. More»

Probation Violation Sends Ex-Detroit Mayor to Prison

Kawme Kilpatrick sentenced to 1½ to 5 years, loses his job

(NEWSER) - Courtroom spectators gasped today when a judge sentenced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to between 1½ and 5 years in prison, far exceeding the sentencing guideline of zero to 17 months for violating his probation. 'This is all because of the actions of you, Mr. Kilpatrick,” Judge David Groner said. “You challenged this court's authority. You attempted to utilize semantics and exploit loopholes.” More»

Marion Jones Signs With WNBA Team

Disgraced Olympic sprinter newest member of Tulsa Shock

(AP) - Marion Jones, once called the world's fastest woman, was introduced today as the newest member of the WNBA's Tulsa Shock. It's been nearly a decade since she shot to fame with five sprinting medals at the Sydney Olympics, but less than 3 years since she was stripped of them over her steroid use; she also served a 6-month prison sentence for lying to prosecutors. More»

Balloon Dad Heene Gets 90 Days

What's worse, he can't parlay stunt into cash for 4 years

(NEWSER) - Richard Heene, the mastermind behind the Balloon Boy stunt, will be cooking up his schemes behind bars for 90 days after being sentenced today. After his sentence—a mixture of hard time and work release—is complete, he’ll serve four years of probation, ABC News reports. The lowest blow? During that time, the judge says, “Mr. Heene is in fact prohibited from receiving any form of financial benefit” for his actions. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Marion Jones Reports to Jail