LOS ANGELES, 26 May 2004 — Anti-doping officials say they received new evidence from sprinter Marion Jones on Monday which will be included in the information already collected from Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO).

“USADA will add the information learned today from Ms Jones to our other evidence as we continue to collect facts related to BALCO materials received from the Senate Commerce Committee,” said Travis Tygart, United States Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) director of legal affairs.

Two-time world champion Jones also claimed victory on Monday, saying the USADA’s statement that it had no drug samples for her, backed up her view that they have no compelling evidence.

“I asked for my old samples to be re-tested for the very simple reason that I know I am drug-free. I know any re-test of old samples would show that,” Jones said.

“We have learned that USADA has no knowledge of any past samples from which to re-test.” Following a three-hour meeting in Colorado Springs with Jones and her lawyer Joseph Burton, USADA reiterated it has the right to ban athletes even without a failed drug test. The USADA did not go into details about what new information they received from Jones.

Jones had asked for the meeting to explain her BALCO connection. Jones said she told the USADA what she has been telling “everyone at every step of the process” that she is drug free. Jones said the evidence that she was shown on Monday is not enough to ban her.

“I answered each and every question that the USADA had,” Jones said.

Burton said Jones has been tested more than 160 times over her career. Jones has never tested positive for banned substances.

“USADA has no knowledge of old samples to re-test. This news is astounding,” Burton said.

The Colorado Springs-based USADA said Jones refused to allow a court reporter to takes notes of Monday’s meeting.

The anti-doping agency said Jones, who won five medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was given documents related to the investigation, which she took with her.

USADA defended its earlier claim that it can sanction an athlete even without a positive doping test.

“Mr Burton contends that only athletes who test positive or admit to a violation can be sanctioned,” Tygart said.

“Without commenting on specifics of any case, USADA confirms that Mr Burton is absolutely incorrect.”

According to an Internal Revenue Service report, Jones and her partner Tim Montgomery allegedly received banned substances from BALCO owner and founder Victor Conte.

Conte allegedly told investigators that Jones and Montgomery were among the 27 elite athletes he provided with steroids, although Conte has denied making such a statement.

Jones testified in November in front of a federal grand jury looking into BALCO.

Jones is threatening to sue if she is prevented from taking part in the Athens Olympics without a failed drug test.

“Her performances have been consistent over the course of her career,” Burton said. “You don’t see spikes in times, you don’t see dramatic changes, you don’t see marked improvements. “Her physical appearance has not changed. She looks very much as she has over the course of her career. “USADA’s conduct, absent any tests, is unconscionable. It is not fair. And it should come to an end now.”