NEW YORK, 23 May 2004 — Marion Jones challenged the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on Friday to retest her blood or urine samples.
However, the American sprinter wants any samples obtained from the BALCO investigation to be tested for DNA first to ensure they belong to the triple Olympic champion.
Jones’ concern over the results of past tests was heightened on Friday after it was reported in the Los Angeles Times that samples obtained in the BALCO steroid investigation resulted in Kelli White’s two-year suspension.
The Times reported records indicating that BALCO founder Victor Conte had sent blood or urine samples to Quest Diagnostics laboratory, were among the evidence gathered by federal agents, according to a search warrant affidavit. “There was some data that showed actual tests,” White’s lawyer Jerrold Colton told the Times.
Confronted with the evidence, White admitted to taking prohibited performance-enhancing drugs, including undetectable steroids and the blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) and agreed to assist USADA in the ongoing investigation.
At Jones’ request, USADA agreed on Thursday to meet with the sprinter to discuss the issue that has sent shockwaves through the athletics world.
In recent weeks Jones has found herself increasingly at the center of the doping storm, under intense pressure to explain her relationship with the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) believed to be at the heart of the steroid scandal.
