While the other MJ - Michael Jackson - has thus far avoided jail time, Marion Jones was not so lucky. She will be doing 6 months in the slammer for lying to investigators ("obstruction of justice") in the investigation into the BALCO labs and her steroid use, and for lying about her role in a check fraud scheme. Her former coach got over 5 years for his role in the check fraud.
The idea that someone is going to prison for using steroids does not sit well with me, but again, the judge who sentenced her is trying to make the point made in Michael Vick's legal proceedings: you can do bad things but if you lie about it, we're throwing the book at you. Six months was the maximum recommended by prosecutors, which was only suggested because of the age of Jones' sons, one of whom she says she is still nursing.
This is a sad day for Marion and for track and field, but it is an especially sad day for her sons. Hopefully, they are just young enough and the sentence is just short enough that it won't affect them too negatively.
I don't know if this is all part of an elaborate scheme to set up some athletes, while others are being treated with kid gloves, but in any event, please, people, stop lying to the feds.
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