U.S. sprinter Marion Jones "appeared briefly at a news
conference Tuesday to pledge support for her beleaguered
husband and to ask the press to leave her alone until after
the Olympics are over," according to Maki & Brunt of the
Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. Reports surfaced at the Sydney Games
that Jones' husband, shotputter C.J. Hunter, had tested
positive for the banned drug nandrolone after a meet in
Norway during the summer. Jones: "I have total and complete
respect and belief that the legal system will do what's
necessary to clear his name" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/26).
Meanwhile, Jones passed her first drug test of the Games
after she won the 100 meters on Saturday (USA TODAY, 9/26).
GUILT BY ASSOCIATION? USA TODAY's Christine Brennan:
"For her image, for her marketability, and for her financial
future, [Jones] cannot be embroiled in a drug scandal in
this of all weeks. And yet she is" (USA TODAY, 9/26). In
Orlando, Juliet Macur: "Just a few days ago ... [Jones] was
America's sweetheart. Now she's a suspect. How could she
not be?" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/26). In Philadelphia, April
Adamson writes Jones' "once-bright future as a millionaress
endorser of Nike and other products has been splattered with
her husband's drug muck." Analysts feel that "even a hint
of suspicion that she uses banned substances or condones
their use by her husband might destroy her value to Nike and
other advertisers." Burns Sports President Bob Williams:
"Her potential with advertisers would be tarnished enough
that it would preclude her from getting any new
endorsements. Some advertisers would think twice. A small
number would just walk way and say it's not worth the risks"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 9/26). In Chicago, Rick
Morrissey: "This [drug controversy] scandalizes the sport's
first family" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/26). In N.Y., Harvey
Araton writes that Jones' pursuit for five Gold medals comes
as "her husband attempts to clear his name, not hers" (N.Y.
TIMES, 9/26). Meanwhile, Hunter's athlete credential is
being replaced with a support staff pass so he can still
coach Jones. USOC Dir of PR Mike Moran: "We don't want to
do anything that will upset Marion's emotional support"
(WASHINGTON POST, 9/26). But in his WinStar Radio segment
this morning, Keith Olbermann said Jones needs her husband
near as she goes for five Gold medals so "she can make more
commercials about integrity in sports." Olbermann: "Hunter
should be on the next plane home" (WinStar Radio, 9/26).
MASBACK IN THE HOT SEAT? While int'l officials accused
the U.S. of covering up some drug results, USATF Exec Dir
Craig Masback "insisted there was no cover-up aimed at
protecting Hunter, or indirectly, Jones." Masback also said
that "there were no additional positive drug tests on the
U.S. track and field team being withheld" (GLOBE & MAIL,
9/26). Masback: "I'm not being the least bit defensive.
Track and field doesn't have anything to apologize for.
We're world leaders in this" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/26).
AN IOC MOTIVE? In N.Y., Jere Longman writes that the
timing of the Hunter news "was viewed as an irritated
reaction by the I.O.C. to relentless criticism that has come
from the United States Congress, White House, corporate
sponsors and news media in regard to corruption in the Salt
Lake City bidding scandal and inadequacies in drug testing"
(N.Y. TIMES, 9/26). In Chicago, Ron Rapoport writes the
allegations against Hunter "smacks too much of payback by
the international Olympic community" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES,
9/26). In Toronto, Dave Perkins writes the U.S. was "riding
for a seriously overdue drug fall and now it has one. ...
Clearly, between drug lectures and subpoenas, the time had
come to teach the Americans a lesson" (TORONTO STAR, 9/26).
Also in Toronto, Steve Buffrey: "Big time Americans aren't
supposed to get nailed" (TORONTO SUN, 9/26). IOC Secretary-
Gen. Francois Carrard, noting that Hunter is not on the U.S.
Olympic team: "At this state, there's no C.J. Hunter file at
the IOC. This didn't occur at the Olympic Games." In
Tacoma, WA, John McGrath wrote, "Maybe not, but it has
befouled the Olympic Games" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 9/25).
ROMANIAN STRIPPED OF MEDAL: The IOC yesterday stripped
Romanian gymnast Andreea Raducan of one of her Gold medals
after she tested positive for a stimulant in cold medicine.
She was given cold pills by the team doctor, who has been
banned through the 2004 Games (Balt. SUN, 9/26).
ARE THE GAMES MARRED? In NJ, Mike Vaccaro: "Suddenly,
these Olympic Games look more and more like a traveling
freak show, a variety act of paranoia. ... Why shouldn't we
be completely disillusioned with the product we've been
given?" (STAR-LEDGER, 9/26). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's
Frederick Klein: "These Games took on a new and undecidedly
uncelebratory tone" (WALL ST JOURNAL, 9/26). In K.C., Joe
Posnanski: "These Games are pretty well ruined. ... Sydney
... will always be remembered for the drugs" (K.C. STAR,
9/26). Headline of USA TODAY: "Drugs Taint Games" (9/26).
HOW IT'S BEING COVERED: Inside.com's Tom Russo: "The
emergence of drugs as a real Olympic issue is testing NBC's
gauzy coverage of the Games" (Inside.com, 9/25). At 2:37
and 30:01 into last night's Olympic broadcast, NBC's Bob
Costas reported on the IOC's action against Raducan. Costas
reported on Hunter at 4:59:11 with a 6:19 report. Costas:
"A little more than a half hour ago, Marion Jones and
husband C.J. Hunter concluded a press conference at a
downtown hotel. As we report this, we want to tell our
affiliates we might be running just a little bit over due to
the importance of this story. It's been revealed in the
last 36 hours that Hunter ... has failed several drug tests
over the summer at a number of European meets." NBC ran
excerpts of the Hunter press conference with Costas ending
the report by saying, "We will continue to follow this
story, of course, as the Games go on" (NBC, 9/25). NBC's
Tom Brokaw led last night's "Nightly News" by saying, "It
has now become a constant question at these Olympic Games.
Will the winner pass the drug test?" NBC's Roger O'Neil
said the "intense scrutiny here to get drugs out of sports"
is becoming "one of the big headlines of these Games." SI's
Brian Cazeneuze: "Even if [Marion Jones] wins four or five
gold medals here, the first question, second question and
third question is likely to be about drugs" ("Nightly News,"
NBC, 9/25). "CBS Evening News" had not reported on the
Sydney Games for the first ten nights of the Olympics, but
last night, CBS had three Olympic reports -- all on drug
testing: Its lead story on Raducan, a 1:47 report on Hunter
and a 2:36 report that U.S. officials will take over the
drug testing from the IOC at the Salt Lake Games (THE
DAILY). For more on the nightly news' treatment of the drug
issue from Sydney, see (#12).
