Hall Has More Harsh Words for Marion Jones

Gary Hall Jr. appeared close to getting away from the mixed zone, the barrier separating reporters from swimmers at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Long Beach.

But one topic kept him standing there: sprinter Marion Jones.

Hall has long been critical of her actions during the BALCO controversy, saying Jones should be forthcoming about her testimony before a federal grand jury. His criticism took on a decided edge Saturday after the prelims of the 100-meter freestyle.

“I hate that her defense is, ‘I never tested positive,’ ” Hall said to a handful of reporters. “It’s an undetectable steroid. It’s still a steroid.”

Hall said if Jones did cheat, “She should be banned for life.”

Jones has not been indicted on any drug charges, or publicly accused of drug offenses by anti-doping authorities. She is participating in the U.S. Olympic track and field trials this weekend in Sacramento.

Her defense on her own behalf has been fierce and very public.

Hall also said he believed swimming has been tainted by the BALCO scandal. In an interview with The Times last month, he said Amy Van Dyken, who won four gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, had slipped under the radar. Van Dyken appeared before the federal grand jury in November, and her representatives declined comment to the San Jose Mercury News when it broke the story.

“Nobody’s questioning Amy Van Dyken,” Hall said. “She needs to be more forthcoming.”

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Swimming is a risk for Dana Vollmer, who won the women’s 200 freestyle Saturday. But it’s one she is willing to take.

Last year, Vollmer, then 14, started having problems during practice. Her heart rate would spike to about 250 beats a minute.

A doctor told Vollmer she had a condition that caused her heart to randomly beat very rapidly and sometimes to stop beating altogether.

The news could have been worse -- the syndrome could have required her to stop all athletic activity. But there is still a risk, and that’s why her mother carries a defibrillator everywhere they go.

Vollmer has had other physical problems. In May 2003, she tore a knee ligament playing basketball, and was told she needed surgery that would require six months of recovery. But with her sights set on making the Pan American Games team, she skipped the surgery and kept swimming.

Vollmer made the team, then had the surgery.

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Another swimmer facing physical challenges is Ed Moses.

After finishing a disappointing sixth in the 100-meter breaststroke Thursday, the former American record holder in the event was told by a doctor that he was using only 60% of his lung capacity.

Doctors speculated that Moses, who has been an asthma sufferer since childhood, was allergic to a chemical in the pool. They gave him some medication, and on Saturday Moses swam better, coming in third in the 200 breaststroke preliminaries and sixth in the semifinal.

But after the semifinal, Moses had trouble breathing and USA Swimming officials said he suffered a minor asthma attack.