Marion Jones Cheater!

You all must remember - I am still sick over Ben Johnston. I stuck with him until he fluffed his second chance. I still think he was a great runner. He took the drugs to keep up with all the other druggies. His Gold medal was given to another user although that guy is still in denial. I still believe athletes should be able to take whatever they want to be better and faster. But I for one am like bill Clinton and his weed. The only difference I have never tried it, I have never even taken a puff.

Stillhere everyone should be given a second chance. Coaches have been known to do underhanded things. It has happened in swimming where the coach supplied the water bottles for his swimmers. The kids did not know. By the way that coach is still coaching kids. Frankly, if I found out someone slipped my kids drugs like that...I'd punch their lights out...

Can they retroactively award her medals to the next finishers?

Frankly, if I found out someone slipped my kids drugs like that...I'd punch their lights out... You are much kinder than I would be. They'd never find the body.

He did it in the USA and now In Canada. Stud I will PM you about something else he has done. Frankly, if I found out someone slipped my kids drugs like that...I'd punch their lights out...

"I still believe athletes should be able to take whatever they want to be better and faster." George, I respect your right to think this and to post this thought. I however, believe and feel 180 degs opposite. I believe taking performance enhancing drugs tarnishes competition and degrades the purity of sports. I believe anyone caught red handed taking illegal performance enhancing drugs should be seriously punished. I have a son who swims for one of the service academies and he has never taken any illegal drug. I know a gold medal winning swimmer from Athens very well. In fact, I watched her grow up into a fine, beautiful, strong, fast and dope free young lady. I would hate to see her robbed of her hard work, dedication, clean & honest performances by some drug taking cheater. Their is no room for this in sports, none.

Many of us live in a dream world to be drug free. When you know your competition is using, what is an athlete to do. I always choose not to use anything illegal. I had been offered steroids in the 50s, I did take one pill then read about these little pills and decided not to take them. But remember when I raced caffein was allowed. The Marathon entry forms had a line in it saying you could use stimulants. Now can you Imagine what some of those guys took. I know what they took and it was not good.

Ben always said he was given something to drink by another athlete just before he went for his test. I know the name of the guy who gave him the drink, he was from the USA but can not say it. I would surely be sued. Those were the days when everyone was using something.

You are right Ben Johnson told me who it was. It is hard to be really be down on Johnson as everyone was doing it at that time. Apparently Carl Lewis didn't give him the drink, but it was someone who was friends with Lewis. Anyway, it's pretty hard to feel much sympathy for someone who readily admits they cheated. See: www.cbc.ca/.../johnson-lewis-conspiracy.html

Poolrat - if only you knew. I have my suspicions, I knew lots of them when I was swimming. Thats why I say let them do what they want we will never know who is clean and who is dirty as long as there is a drug designer who keeps ahead of the testers. Looks like those days are still with us. This really saddens me because track and field used to be my sport. Like cycling all track athletes are suspect now. I just hope the next scandal is not a swimmer.