Jones and Hunter to Divorce

Track standout Marion Jones has separated from her husband, world shotput champion C.J. Hunter, and will seek a divorce.

Jones, winner of a record five medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, stood at her husband’s side at the Games when he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. But she said the two have “irreconcilable differences, which have made nurturing our marriage extremely difficult.”

“Having no mutual children, we have determined that this course is best for our respective futures,” she said Tuesday in a statement.

The couple have been married since October 1998. Hunter has two children by a previous marriage.

Hunter was suspended by the International Amateur Athletic Federation before the Sydney Games after allegedly testing positive for the banned substance nandrolone four times at meets in Europe. He was banned from the Olympics and announced his retirement.

USA Track & Field suspended him for two years earlier this year after he chose not to fight the drug charges, but he denied taking any banned substances.