Jones asked not to compete in Paris
PARIS (AP) — Marion Jones' invitation to run in the Essone meet on Sunday was withdrawn after organizers decided to honour a boycott by other European track officials, who have shunned the American star. Jones was to compete in the 200 metres at the Paris event. French organizers withdrew the invitation after several major European meet directors decided not to invite Jones or boyfriend Tim Montgomery. Jones is the subject of an International Olympic Committee investigation into allegations of doping, and Montgomery faces a lifetime ban from the sport for alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. "We decided to fall in line with the position taken by the Euro Meetings group," Essone race organizer Anne Tournier-Lasserve said Thursday. "We were under no pressure from them and are free to make our own decisions.'' Meanwhile, organizers of the IAAF Grand Prix Regione Lombardia confirmed Thursday that Jones will race in the 100 at the June 1 meet in Milan. They refused to comment on the Euro Meetings boycott. A telephone message left on Thursday for Jones' agent Charlie Wells was not returned. Jones and Montgomery are linked with the BALCO lab, which is under investigation for drug violations. Jones has never tested positive for performance-enhancing substances and has repeatedly denied using them. She has filed a $25 million (U.S.) defamation suit against BALCO founder Victor Conte, who told a national television audience she had used banned substances. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has accused Montgomery, the world record holder at 100 metres, of using steroids and other banned substances and wants to impose a lifetime ban. Although Montgomery has not tested positive, USADA says it has evidence proving that he used the drugs. The international Court of Arbitration for Sport, which has the final word on such cases, has scheduled a hearing on Montgomery's appeal June 6 in San Francisco. On April 30, Jones won her first race in almost a year, taking the 100 metres in 11.28 seconds at an IAAF Grand Prix II meet in Martinique.› Great subscription deals here! |
