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82-477: Timothy Montgomery (born January 28, 1975) is an American former track sprinter who specialized in the 100-meter dash . In 2005, he was stripped of his records—including a now-void men's 100-meter world record of 9.78 seconds set in 2002—after being found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs as a central figure in the BALCO scandal . Since retiring from athletics, he has been tried and convicted for his part in

164-528: A New York–based check fraud scheme and for dealing heroin in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Montgomery's first major medal was an Olympic silver in the 4 × 100-meter relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics . He was a 100-meter bronze medalist at the 1997 World Championships , then shared in the relay gold medal with the United States team at the 1999 World Championships . He also took Olympic gold at

246-626: A book, On the Right Track: From Olympic Downfall to Finding Forgiveness and the Strength to Overcome and Succeed , published by Simon & Schuster . Jones is now a full-time public speaker, trainer and coach. In 2024 Jones partnered with Driven Inc to launch Driven performance which focuses on building resilience skills through coaching and physical fitness. In high school, Jones won the CIF California State Meet in

328-511: A check-cashing scheme to New York U.S. Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Erik Rosenblatt, who has been leading a broad financial investigation that has already convicted Montgomery, sports agent Charles Wells, and her coach, Steve Riddick. Prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas that any sentence between probation and six months' imprisonment would be fair (with the maximum penalty being five years in prison); Karas responded by seeking advice as to whether he could go beyond

410-427: A false start." The 100 m Olympic gold and silver medallist Linford Christie of Great Britain famously had frequent false starts that were marginally below the legal reaction time of 0.1  seconds. Christie and his coach, Ron Roddan , both claimed that the false starts were due to Christie's exceptional reaction times being under legal time. His frequent false starting eventually led to his disqualification from

492-663: A large role in one's ability to sprint, athletes must be dedicated to their training to ensure that they can optimize their performances. Sprint training includes various running workouts, targeting acceleration, speed development, speed endurance, special endurance, and tempo endurance. Additionally, athletes perform intense strength training workouts, as well as plyometric or jumping workouts. Collectively, these training methods produce qualities that allow athletes to be stronger, and more powerful, in hopes of ultimately running faster. Marion Jones Marion Lois Jones (born October 12, 1975), also known as Marion Jones-Thompson ,

574-402: A minor, claimed that she never received the letter notifying her of the required test; and attorney Johnnie Cochran successfully got the four-year ban overturned. Jones tended to train with both coaches and athletes who themselves were dogged by rumors and accusations surrounding performance-enhancing drugs. And until 2007, Jones denied, in almost every way possible and in almost any venue where

656-630: A necessity but are highly suggested for use in sprinting events. Starting blocks are a piece of equipment that typically consists of foot pads attached to a central rail. The point of using blocks is to help the athlete push themselves further down the track as quickly as possible. The baton is a required element for any relay race. The baton is passed to each athlete through different exchange zones , with different techniques. Typically, about 1 foot (0.30 m) and 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter. Used typically in training sessions to measure relative times and recovery times. Stopwatches are not always

738-654: A sprinter only needs two types of shoes, training shoes and sprinting spikes . Sprinting spikes are typically designed to be lightweight, with a minimal cushion on the heels and a plate on the forefoot to keep the runner on the toes of each foot. The spike plate will typically have the maximum number of holes for metal spikes to be inserted to keep a proper grip on the track surface. These metal removable spikes also come in varying sizes. The spikes typically range from 4 mm to 15 mm and come in different styles. Most facilities have specific requirements for what size and style spikes can be used. Starting blocks are not

820-561: A stadium. However, stadiums could vary in size and there was apparently no definite standard length for them, e.g., the stadium at Delphi measures 177 m and the one at Pergamon 210 m. The diaulos was an event contested in the Ancient Greek Olympia that was double the length of a stadion . As well as standard foot races, in Ancient Greece there was also a sprint race called the hoplitodromos ('armed diaulos' ). This required

902-465: A start, a green card is shown to all the athletes. The green card carries no penalty. If an athlete is unhappy with track conditions after the "on your marks" command is given, the athlete must raise a hand before the "set" command and provide the Start referee with a reason. It is then up to the Start referee to decide if the reason is valid. If the Start referee deems the reason invalid, a yellow card (warning)

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984-572: A statement: "Marion Jones will be remembered as one of the biggest frauds in sporting history." On October 8, 2007, a source confirmed that Marion Jones surrendered her five medals from the 2000 Summer Olympics . On the same day, Ueberroth said that all the relay medals should be returned, and on April 10, 2008, the IOC voted to strip Jones's relay teammates of their medals as well, although this decision would successfully be appealed by seven of Jones's teammates and overturned in 2010. On December 12, 2007,

1066-408: A time of 5.96 seconds. The 55 metres is an uncommon event that resulted from the metrication of the 60 yards and is an alternative to the 60 metres . An extremely rare sprinting event, that was occasionally run in the 1960s. The world record of 6.90 is held by Bob Hayes . The stadion , also known as the stade, was the standard short distance sprint in ancient Greece and ran the length of

1148-456: Is an American former world champion track-and-field athlete and former professional basketball player. She won three gold medals and two bronze medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney , Australia, but was later stripped of her medals after admitting to lying to federal investigators about her knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs. Jones was one of the most famous athletes to be linked to

1230-399: Is deemed fair.  World Athletics sets the competition rules internationally. The World Athletics rulebook is broken into 4 separate books. Starting blocks are used for all competition sprints (up to and including 400 m) and relay events (first leg only, up to 4x400 m). The starting blocks consist of two adjustable footplates attached to a rigid frame. Races commence with

1312-528: Is issued to that particular athlete. If the athlete is already on a warning, the athlete is disqualified. According to the World Athletics (WA) rules, "An athlete, after assuming a full and final set position, shall not commence his starting motion until after receiving the report of the gun or approved starting apparatus. If, in the judgement of the Starter or Recallers, he does so any earlier, it shall be deemed

1394-498: Is obstructed. The first athlete whose torso reaches the vertical plane of the closest edge of the finish line is the winner. To ensure that the sprinter's torso triggers the timing impulse at the finish line rather than an arm, foot, or other body parts, a double Photocell is commonly used. Times are only recorded by an electronic timing system when both of these Photocells are simultaneously blocked. Photo finish systems are also used at some track and field events. While genetics play

1476-453: Is the championship distance. The event was a common event for most American students because it was one of the standardized test events as part of the President's Award on Physical Fitness . The 50 metres is an uncommon event and alternative to the 60 metres . Donovan Bailey holds the men's world record with a time of 5.56 seconds and Irina Privalova holds the women's world record with

1558-478: Is with Marion Jones ; his daughter Tymiah(2001) is a runner for University of Florida Gators. In October 2009 while imprisoned he married Jamalee Montgomery. Sprint (running) In athletics and track and field , sprints (or dashes ) are races over short distances. They are among the oldest running competitions, being recorded at the Ancient Olympic Games . Three sprints are currently held at

1640-583: The 100 m sprint four years in a row, representing Rio Mesa the first two years and Thousand Oaks high school the last two. She was successfully defended by attorney Johnnie Cochran on charges of missing a routine drug test. She was selected the Gatorade Player of the Year for track and field three years in a row, once at Rio Mesa and twice at Thousand Oaks. She was the Track and Field News "High School Athlete of

1722-497: The 1996 Summer Olympics 100 m final in Atlanta , the US, due to a second false start by Christie. Since January 2010, under WA rules, a single false start by an athlete resulted in disqualification. In 2012, a new development to the false start rule was added. Because certain athletes could be disqualified for twitching in the starting blocks, but some athletes could make a twitch without

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1804-690: The 2000 Summer Olympics with the American relay team. He initially won a silver medal in the 100 meters at the 2001 World Championships , but this was nullified due to doping. His official personal best for the 100 meters stands at 9.92 seconds, making him a sub-10 second sprinter . Born in Gaffney, South Carolina , Montgomery was initially a basketball and football player prior to trying out for track. Montgomery studied at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas , and transferred to Norfolk State University in 1994. Located in

1886-617: The BALCO scandal . The performance-enhancing substance usage scandal covered more than 20 top-level athletes, including Jones's ex-husband, shot putter C. J. Hunter , and 100 m sprinter Tim Montgomery . Jones played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels , where she won the NCAA championship in 1994 . She later played two season of professional basketball in the Women's National Basketball Association , as point guard for

1968-800: The BOK Center against the Minnesota Lynx . On August 22, 2010, she logged her first start and scored a WNBA career high 15 points in a win against the Chicago Sky . In 47 WNBA games, Jones averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. Jones was waived by the Shock on July 21, 2011. Jones appears in the 2003 film Top Speed , along with other speed specialists such as racing driver Lucas Luhr , mountain biker Marla Streb , and Porsche Cayenne designer Stephen Murkett. Directed by Greg MacGillivray and shot in IMAX format,

2050-450: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). On December 13, 2005, CAS found Montgomery guilty and imposed a two-year ban. On top of the ban, all of Montgomery's results and awards since March 31, 2001, including his former world record, were also stripped. After the ban was made public, Montgomery announced his retirement. The investigation also implicated his former partner Marion Jones , winner of

2132-664: The Tulsa Shock . Marion Jones was born to George Jones and his wife, Marion (originally from Belize ), in Los Angeles . She holds dual citizenship with the United States and Belize. Her parents split when she was very young, and Jones's mother remarried a retired postal worker, Ira Toler, three years later. Toler became a stay-at-home dad to Jones and her older half-brother, Albert Kelly, until his sudden death in 1987. Jones turned to sports as an outlet for her grief: running, pickup basketball games, and whatever else her brother Albert

2214-475: The U.S. Olympic Committee , reacted to the news of Jones's confession and guilty plea on perjury charges by issuing a statement calling on Jones to "immediately step forward and return the Olympic medals she won while competing in violation of the rules". Ueberroth added that her admission was "long overdue and underscores the shame and dishonor that are inherent with cheating." IAAF president Lamine Diack said in

2296-839: The USA Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis , reported that on June 23, 2006, an "A" sample of Marion Jones's urine tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a banned performance enhancer. Jones withdrew from the Weltklasse Golden League meet in Switzerland, citing "personal reasons", and once more denied using performance-enhancing drugs. She retained lawyer Howard Jacobs , who had represented many athletes in doping cases, including Tim Montgomery and cyclist Floyd Landis . On September 6, 2006, Jones's lawyers announced that her "B" sample had tested negative, which cleared her from

2378-599: The University of North Carolina , where her team won the national championship in 1994. Her No. 20 jersey, honored by the school, hangs in Carmichael Auditorium . She had been selected in the third round of the 2003 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury . On March 10, 2010, the Tulsa Shock announced that Jones, a rookie, had signed to play with the team. Jones made her debut on May 15, in the Shock's inaugural game at

2460-551: The 100 m sprint at the 1997 World Championships in Athens , while finishing 10th in the long jump . At the 1999 World Championships , Jones attempted to win four titles, but injured herself in the 200 m after a gold in the 100 m and a long jump bronze. At the Sydney Olympics, Jones finished with three gold medals (100- and 200-meter sprint, and 4 × 400 m relay) and two bronze medals (long jump and 4 × 100 m relay). However, she

2542-548: The 100 meters and 400 meters. Athletes started both races from a crouched start (4-point stance). In both the original Olympics and the modern Olympics, only men were allowed to participate in track and field until the 1928 games in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The 1928 games were also the first games to use a 400-meter track, which became the standard for track and field. The modern sprinting events have their roots in races of imperial measurements which were later altered to metric:

Tim Montgomery - Misplaced Pages Continue

2624-409: The 100 m evolved from the 100-yard dash , the 200 m distance came from the furlong (or 1 ⁄ 8 mile ), and the 400 m was the successor to the 440-yard dash or quarter-mile race. Technological advances have always improved sprint performances (i.e., starting blocks, synthetic track material, and shoe technology). In 1924, athletes used a small shovel to dig holes to start

2706-622: The 100 m sprint at Gaz de France with a time of 10.93 seconds. It was her fastest time in almost four years. Three days later, Jones once more improved on her seasonal best time at the Rome IIAF Golden League (10.91 seconds), but lost to Jamaica 's Sherone Simpson , who clocked 10.87. In November 2009, Jones was working out for the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA . She had played basketball while in college at

2788-487: The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In the course of investigative research, San Francisco-based reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada reported Jones had received banned drugs from BALCO, citing documentary evidence and testimony from Jones's ex-husband C.J. Hunter, who claims to have seen Jones inject herself in the stomach with the steroids. According to Hunter's 2004 testimony before a federal grand jury, Jones's use of banned drugs began well before Sydney. Hunter told

2870-511: The 2003 World Championships, but spent a year preparing for the 2004 Olympics . Montgomery, who did not qualify for the 2004 Olympic track-and-field team for poor performance, was charged by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), as part of the investigation into the BALCO doping scandal , with receiving and using banned performance-enhancing drugs. The USADA sought a four-year suspension for Montgomery. Montgomery fought

2952-605: The Hampton Roads area of the Virginia port city of Norfolk , Norfolk State was known for its strong track program. While in school, he competed in several junior track events, and did well in the sprint and relay events. Montgomery did not qualify for the 100 meters at the 1996 Summer Olympics, but he did compete in Atlanta in the heats of the 4 × 100-meter relay team that eventually finished second behind Canada. He qualified for his first major international tournament in 1997, and won

3034-518: The Hampton Roads area over the previous year, according to the Virginian-Pilot , the daily newspaper in Virginia Beach. Montgomery told the newspaper he knew nothing of the accusations and that his arrest was a "total surprise." In October 2008, Montgomery was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. Montgomery has four children with four different women. His son Tim Jr (June 2003)

3116-485: The IOC formally stripped Jones of all five Olympic medals dating back to September 2000, and banned her from attending the 2008 Summer Olympics in any capacity. The IOC action also officially disqualified Jones from her fifth-place finish in the long jump at the 2004 Summer Olympics . On October 28, 2008, Jones was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and stated that she would have won gold at the Sydney Olympics without

3198-457: The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. In the run-up to the 2000 Olympics, Jones declared that she intended to win gold medals in all five of her competition events at Sydney. Jones's husband, C. J. Hunter, had withdrawn from the shotput competition for a knee injury, though he was allowed to keep his coaching credentials and attend the games to support his wife. Just hours after Marion Jones won her first of

3280-515: The United States team continues to be officially listed as the winner of the event and no action has been taken against teammates Jon Drummond , Bernard Williams , Brian Lewis , Maurice Greene, and Kenny Brokenburr . In April 2006, Montgomery was indicted and arrested on fraud charges for his alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme. He was accused of depositing three bogus checks totaling $ 775,000. Montgomery allegedly received $ 20,000 for his participation. His former coach, Steve Riddick ,

3362-436: The United States until 1965 and 1974 respectively. The Amateur Athletic Association (AAU) decided to switch track and field in the U.S. to the metric system to finally make track and field internationally equivalent. Biological factors that determine a sprinter's potential include: Note: Indoor distances are less standardized, as many facilities run shorter or occasionally longer distances depending on available space. 60 m

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3444-400: The Year" in 1991 and 1992. She was the third female athlete to achieve the title twice, immediately following Angela Burnham at Rio Mesa High School , who was the second to achieve the title twice. She was invited to participate in the 1992 Olympic trials, and after her showing in the 200 meters finals, would have made the team as an alternate in the 4 × 100 meter relay , but she declined

3526-511: The alleged multimillion-dollar scheme. Prosecutors alleged that funds were sent to Jones's track coach, 1976 Olympic gold medalist Steve Riddick , in Virginia , then funneled back to New York through a network of "friends, relatives and associates." Riddick was arrested in February on money-laundering charges. According to the indictment and subsequent documents filed with the court, the link to Jones

3608-620: The ban, but lost the appeal on December 13, 2005, receiving a two-year ban from track-and-field competition; the Court of Arbitration for Sport also stripped Montgomery of all race results, records, and medals, from March 31, 2001, onward. Montgomery later announced his retirement. On February 24, 2007, Jones married Barbadian sprinter and 2000 Olympic 100 m bronze medalist Obadele Thompson . Jones has two children with Thompson. Thompson and Jones divorced in 2017. Jones now resides in Austin, Texas with her long-time partner. In 2010, Jones released

3690-419: The bronze medal at those World Championships, finishing third behind Maurice Greene . Two years later, Montgomery came in sixth in the individual final, but did win a gold medal with the United States relay team. Montgomery did not qualify for the individual 100 meters at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney , though he again ran as an alternate in the heats of the relay event. In the final, the United States won

3772-483: The business is "Never Underestimate My Ability" as encoded into the business website name NUMA Speed . The motto is a reference to both the initial success, extensive life challenges and ultimate redemption reflected in his athletic and business timeline. Montgomery did not qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics , finishing seventh in the final of the United States Olympic trials. Before the trials, however, he

3854-592: The doping allegations. On October 5, 2007, Jones admitted to lying to federal agents under oath about her steroids use prior to the 2000 Summer Olympics and pleaded guilty at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (in White Plains ). She confessed to Judge Kenneth M. Karas that she had made false statements regarding the BALCO and a check-fraud case. She was released on her own recognizance but

3936-617: The drugs that led to her disgrace. Seven years after winning a women's record five Olympic track and field medals and receiving multimillion-dollar endorsement deals, Jones was broke. According to the Associated Press, Jones was heavily in debt and fighting off court judgments, according to court records reviewed by the Los Angeles Times . In 2006, a bank foreclosed on her $ 2.5 million mansion in Apex, North Carolina . In her prime, Jones

4018-467: The easily detected nandrolone. Jones would later write in her autobiography, Marion Jones: Life in the Fast Lane , that Hunter's positive drug tests hurt their marriage and her image as a drug-free athlete. The couple divorced in 2002. On June 28, 2003, Jones gave birth to a son, Tim Montgomery Jr., with then-boyfriend Tim Montgomery , a world-class sprinter himself. Because of her pregnancy, Jones missed

4100-453: The film covers details from races to mistakes she made within her performances. Throughout most of her athletic career including two Olympiads and several championship meets, Jones had been accused, either directly or by implication, of taking performance-enhancing drugs. These accusations began in high school in the early 1990s, when she missed a random drug test and was consequently banned for four years from track and field competition. Jones,

4182-417: The firing of the starter's gun . The starting commands are "On your marks" and "Set". Once all athletes are in the set position, the starter's gun is fired, officially starting the race. For the 100 m, all competitors are lined up side by side. For the 200 m, 300 m, and 400 m, which involve curves, runners are staggered for the start. In the rare event that there are technical issues with

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4264-485: The gold medal. Montgomery broke Greene's 100-meter world record by 0.01 seconds in September 2002. With a maximum-allowable tailwind of 2.0 meters per second (4.5 mph), Montgomery posted a time of 9.78 seconds. This record was later nullified because of doping. In 2014, Montgomery relocated to Gainesville, Florida , to start a business focused on general athletic and sports training for youth and adults. The motto for

4346-474: The inside lane. Any athlete who runs outside the assigned lane to gain an advantage is subject to disqualification. If the athlete is forced to run outside of his or her lane by another person, and no material advantage is gained, there will be no disqualification. Also, a runner who strays from his or her lane in the straightaway, or crosses the outer line of his or her lane on the bend, and gains no advantage by it, will not be disqualified as long as no other runner

4428-405: The investigators that Jones first obtained EPO ( erythropoietin ) from Graham, who Hunter said had a Mexican connection for the drug. Later, Hunter said, Graham met Conte, who began providing the coach with BALCO "nutritional supplements", which were actually an experimental class of "designer" steroids said to be undetectable by drug screening procedures available at the time. Graham then distributed

4510-428: The invitation. After winning further state-wide sprint titles, she accepted a full scholarship to the University of North Carolina in basketball , where she helped the team win the NCAA championship in her freshman year . Jones redshirted her 1996 basketball season to concentrate on track but was injured and never got the opportunity to try out. She excelled at her first major international competition, winning

4592-424: The modern Summer Olympics and outdoor World Championships : the 100 metres , 200 metres , and 400 metres . At the professional level, sprinters begin the race by assuming a crouching position in the starting blocks before driving forward and gradually moving into an upright position as the race progresses and momentum is gained. The set position differs depending on the start. The use of starting blocks allows

4674-493: The most accurate way to measure times in a race setting, Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) and gate systems are used to accurately measure races, with results as accurate as up to 1/1000 of a second.   As of 2021, World Athletics (WA) is the governing body for track and field around the world. Every country that wishes to participate in WA competitions must become a member. Each governing body sets its own rules for how competition

4756-439: The performance enhancers to Jones and other Sprint Capitol athletes. Subsequently, Hunter told federal agents Jones began receiving drugs directly from Conte. Jones had never failed a drug test using the then-existing testing procedures, and insufficient evidence was found to bring charges regarding other untested performance-enhancing drugs. The Washington Post , citing unidentified sources with knowledge of drug results from

4838-541: The planned five golds, though, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Hunter had failed four pre-Olympic drug tests, testing positive each time for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone . Hunter was immediately suspended from taking any role at the Sydney games, and he was ordered to surrender his on-field coaching credentials. At a press conference where Hunter broke down in tears, he denied taking any performance-enhancing drugs, much less

4920-540: The preliminaries only to miss a baton pass and finish last in the final race. Jones promised that her latest defeat would not be the end of her Olympic efforts, and reasserted in May 2005 that winning a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics remained her "ultimate goal." May 2006 had Jones run 11.06 at altitude, but into a headwind in her season debut and beat Veronica Campbell and Lauryn Williams in subsequent 100 m events. By July 8, 2006, Jones appeared to be in top form; she won

5002-521: The press conference as she apologized for her actions, saying: "And so it is with a great amount of shame, that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust... and you have the right to be angry with me. I have let them down. I have let my country down. And I have let myself down." USADA stated that their sanction "also requires disqualification of all her competitive results obtained after September 1, 2000, and forfeiture of all medals, results, points and prizes". On January 11, 2008, Jones

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5084-453: The press, to various sports agencies, and to two grand juries. One was impaneled to investigate the BALCO "designer steroid" ring, and the other was impaneled to investigate a check fraud ring involving many of the same parties from the BALCO case. As a result of these admissions, Jones accepted a two-year suspension from track and field competition issued by USADA and announced her retirement from track and field. She broke down into tears during

5166-496: The question arose, being involved with performance enhancers. She frequently said that she had never tested positive for performance-enhancing substances. On December 3, 2004, Victor Conte , the founder of BALCO , appeared in an interview with Martin Bashir on ABC 's 20/20 . In the interview, Conte told a national audience that he had personally given Jones four different illegal performance-enhancing drugs before, during, and after

5248-456: The race. The world record in the 100-meter dash in 1924 was 10.4 seconds, while in 1948, (the first use of starting blocks) was 10.2 seconds, and was 10.1 seconds in 1956. The constant drive for faster athletes with better technology has brought man from 10.4 seconds to 9.58 seconds in less than 100 years. Track events were measured with the metric system except for the United Kingdom and

5330-411: The same lane on the running track throughout all sprinting events, with the sole exception of the 400 metres indoors. Races up to 100 metres are largely focused upon acceleration to an athlete's maximum speed. All sprints beyond this distance increasingly incorporate an element of endurance. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race , which

5412-424: The sentencing hearing, the judge admonished her, saying that she knew what she was doing and would be punished accordingly. "The offenses here are serious. They each involve lies made three years apart", Karas said, adding that Jones's actions were "not a one-off mistake...but a repetition in an attempt to break the law." Jones was ordered to surrender on March 15, 2008. She reported four days early, on March 11, at

5494-434: The six-month sentence. Meanwhile, Jones's lawyers asked that her penalty be limited to probation and community service, arguing, in part, that she had been punished enough by apologizing publicly, retiring from track and field, and relinquishing her five Olympic medals. On January 11, 2008, Karas sentenced Jones to six months in jail for her involvement in the check fraud case and her use of performance-enhancing drugs. During

5576-401: The sprinter to perform an enhanced isometric preload ; this generates muscular pre-tension which is channeled into the subsequent forward drive, making it more powerful. Body alignment is of key importance in producing the optimal amount of force. Ideally, the athlete should begin in a 4-point stance and drive forwards, pushing off using both legs for maximum force production. Athletes remain in

5658-425: The sprinters to additionally carry a large shield and wear a helmet. Similarly to the diaulos, they ran two stades in length i.e. one stade ending with a 180 degree turn around a post, which led onto the second stade in length back down the track. In the diaulos, each sprinter had an individual post to run around. However, for some hoplitodromos races all of the sprinters ran around a single central post. Typically,

5740-620: The starter noticing and disqualifying the athlete, it was decided that twitching in the starting block while being in the 'set' position would only carry a maximum penalty of a yellow card or a warning. To instantly be disqualified for a false start, an athlete's hands must leave the track or their feet must leave the starting blocks, while the athlete is in their final 'set' position. For all Olympic sprint events, runners must remain within their pre-assigned lanes, which measure 1.22 metres (4 feet) wide, from start to finish. The lanes can be numbered 1 through 8, 9, or rarely 10, starting with

5822-470: The substance. In a published letter in October 2007, Jones said that she had used the substance that was given to her described as flaxseed oil, which was later confirmed to be "The Clear" until she stopped training with Graham at the end of 2002. She said she lied when federal agents questioned her in 2003 because she panicked when they presented her with a sample of "The Clear". Peter Ueberroth , chairman of

5904-467: The women's 100 meters at the 2000 Sydney Games. On November 24, 2008, Montgomery admitted to taking testosterone and human growth hormone before the Sydney Games 4 × 100-meter relay, in which he helped claim the gold medal. After the admission an International Olympic Committee spokesperson said the committee would look into the matter as part of its open file on the BALCO investigation, but as of 2019

5986-441: Was a sprinting race from one end of the stadium to the other. The Diaulos (Δίαυλος, "double pipe") was a double-stadion race, c.  400 metres (1,300 feet) , introduced in the 14th Olympiad of the ancient Olympic Games (724   BC). Sprint races were part of the original Olympic Games in the 7th century B.C. as well as the first modern Olympic Games which started in the late 19th century ( Athens 1896 ) and featured

6068-431: Was also a defendant in the case. Riddick served a prison term of five years and three months. Marion Jones served a six-month prison term for lying to investigators about the check-fraud scam. Montgomery pleaded guilty to the charges on April 9, 2007. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison on May 16, 2008. On May 1, 2008, an indictment was unsealed that accused Montgomery of dealing more than 100 grams of heroin in

6150-432: Was charged with using illegal performance-enhancing drugs by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). While he has not returned a positive drug test, according to press reports he testified to the agency that he, along with a number of other prominent athletes, obtained steroids and human growth hormone from BALCO , a laboratory near San Francisco. The USADA sought a four-year suspension on Montgomery, who appealed to

6232-527: Was doing athletically. By the age of 15, she was routinely dominating California high-school athletics on both the track and the basketball court. Jones is also a 1997 graduate of the University of North Carolina (UNC). While at UNC, Jones met and began dating one of the track coaches, shot putter C. J. Hunter . Hunter voluntarily resigned from his position at UNC to comply with the requirements of university rules prohibiting coach-athlete dating. Jones and Hunter were married on October 3, 1998, and trained for

6314-411: Was later stripped of these medals after admitting her use of performance-enhancing drugs. Jones vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs until her confession in 2007. A dominant force in women's sprinting, Jones was upset in the 100 m sprint at the 2001 World Championships , as Ukrainian Zhanna Pintusevich-Block beat her for her first loss in the event in six years; Pintusevich-Block

6396-588: Was made through one of Riddick's business partners, Nathaniel Alexander. On October 5, 2007, Jones pleaded guilty to making false statements to IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky leading the ongoing BALCO investigation in California. Jones claimed she had never taken performance-enhancing drugs. "That was a lie, your honor", she said from the defense table. The federal government, through grand juries, had been investigating steroid abuse since 2003. Jones also pleaded guilty to making false statements about her knowledge of

6478-406: Was one of the names revealed by Victor Conte during the BALCO scandals. Jones, however, did claim the gold in both the 200 m and 4x100 m relay. On her 2004 Olympics experience, Jones said "It's extremely disappointing, words can't put it into perspective." She came in fifth in the long jump and competed in the women's 4x100 m relay where the team swept past the competition in

6560-431: Was one of track's first female sports millionaires, typically earning between $ 70,000 and $ 80,000 a race, plus at least another $ 1 million from race bonuses and endorsement deals. In July 2006, Jones was linked to a check-counterfeiting scheme that led to criminal charges against her coach and former boyfriend Montgomery. Documents showed that a $ 25,000 check made out to Jones was deposited in her bank account as part of

6642-580: Was required to surrender both her U.S. and Belizean passports, pending sentencing in January. Although a maximum sentence of five years could be imposed, the prosecution recommended no more than six months as part of Jones's plea bargain . After her admission, Jones held a press conference on the same day, where she publicly admitted to using steroids before the Olympics and acknowledged that she had, in fact, lied when she previously denied steroid use in statements to

6724-405: Was sentenced to six months in jail. She began her sentence on March 7, 2008, and was released on September 5, 2008. In the BALCO case, she had denied to federal agents her use of the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone , known as "The Clear", or "THG", from 1999, but claimed she was given the impression she was taking a flaxseed oil supplement for two years while coach Trevor Graham supplied her with

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