Newz Forum: OTHER: Marion Jones ready to go to court

Marion Jones denied the latest link between her and the growing BALCO scandal and reiterated she has never taken any performance-enhancing drugs. At a time when the focus of the world's most famous track and field athlete should be on making the U.S. Olympic team - that, and caring for her infant son, of course Jones is in the position of having to defend her reputation as a drug-free competitor.

Marion Jones believes public opinion is on her side in the steroid scandal swirling around her. Marion Jones would go to court if the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency bars her from competing in the Athens Olympics without a positive drug test. USADA has the power to bring a drug case against an athlete in lieu of a positive drug test when the agency "has other reason to believe that a potential doping violation has occurred, such as admitted doping," according to its rules. Jones, who won five track and field medals at the 2000 Olympics, was one of several athletes who testified before a grand jury in the BALCO investigation.

The U.S. Olympic track and field trials are in Sacramento, Calif., from July 9-18. Officials wanted the Senate committee to turn over information received from the Justice Department regarding the BALCO steroids so they could be sure to field a clean team in Athens. The USOC has until July 21 to submit its Olympics roster to the International Olympic Committee.