FORMER Aussie sprinter Melinda Gainsford-Taylor led global condemnation of American Marion Jones whose steroid confession threatens to sour the legacy of the Sydney Olympics. Gainsford-Taylor last night said she was sickened to be cheated of any medal hope in Sydney by a drug user. The Aussie was left in the wake of Jones' superhuman performance in the 200m final in Sydney, one of five medals she eventually took home, including three golds.
News that Jones will be stripped of the medals did little to quell the anger of Gainsford-Taylor who said she felt ill at her rival's confession. Going into the Games, there was this suspicion around her . .
. but to actually hear her say she's taken it is a bit of a shock, Gainsford-Taylor said. The Australian, who finished sixth in the 200m final, said she noticed unusual changes in Jones' physique and skin going into Sydney amid rumours of steroid use around the American.
I had competed against her for a couple of years leading into that, but actually at the Olympics I saw certain changes which was acne - apparently one of the things which happens when you're taking drugs, Gainsford-Taylor said. You look back at the Sydney Olympics, she had her husband C.J.
Hunter who had tested positive to drugs. Jones, 31, will admit to using steroids for two years from 1999, in the lead-up to the Sydney Games. She was reportedly planning to plead guilty to two counts of lying to federal agents about doping and an unrelated financial matter.
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