Sprinter Shown Evidence

Marion Jones answered questions from anti-doping officials for three hours at a meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Monday, after which her lawyer said he remains concerned that authorities might seek to ban her from the Olympic Games.

Jones was presented with “what [officials] believe is evidence” of doping infractions and was asked to respond, attorney Joseph Burton said.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency issued a brief statement, neither clearing Jones nor giving any indication about whether it planned to take action against her.

While refusing to describe the evidence against his client, Burton said he believed that some of it came from the federal government’s BALCO investigation and he characterized it as unconvincing.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency did not possess any urine samples or test results proving the five-time Olympic medalist had used performance-enhancing drugs, he said.

“That means they’re going to be going forward on the basis of no tests or results,” he said during a conference call with reporters. “Which is, at least in our view, pretty unusual and certainly raises a number of questions.”

Just last week, USADA persuaded another top U.S. sprinter, Kelli White, to accept a two-year suspension after showing her an array of BALCO documents implicating her in steroid use.

The evidence did not include urine samples. It did include positive results, but not from officially sanctioned tests.

In Jones’ case, authorities confirmed only that they met with Jones and provided “documents related to [the] investigation, which she took with her.”

In a statement, Jones said: “I answered each and every question that USADA had. I made clear to USADA what I have made clear to everyone at every step of this entire process: I have never taken an illegal performance-enhancing substance.”

With the U.S. track and field trials only weeks away, and the Olympic Games in Athens beginning in mid-August, U.S. Olympic officials have been scrambling to identify suspected cheaters.

Their effort began in earnest last fall after federal agents raided the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, a small manufacturer of nutritional supplements near San Francisco. Four men were charged with distributing steroids to dozens of professional baseball and football players and Olympic athletes.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty.

A parade of high-profile athletes, including Jones, testified before a grand jury about their connections to the company.

More recently, a Senate committee subpoenaed evidence from the case -- including e-mail and canceled checks -- and gave it to USADA.

Though the agency most often takes action after an athlete tests positive, it can seek a ban using other types of evidence under a “nonanalytical positive” provision.

Authorities have succeeded in using such measures and have repeatedly defended their right to employ them.

As recently as last week, White’s attorney called the BALCO documents “overwhelming.” According to numerous sources, USADA is negotiating deals with additional athletes on the matter.

“My guess is that everyone who had any association with BALCO is under investigation,” Burton said.

The attorney reiterated Jones’ claim that her only connection to the company was a couple of conversations with BALCO President Victor Conte.

Burton declined to address a $7,350 check from Jones’ account to BALCO in 2000. Jones has said she was unaware of the check and that it was written by her former husband, shotputter C.J. Hunter, who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs that year.

The San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News previously reported that Conte told agents he supplied steroids to Jones and others -- an assertion Conte’s attorneys say was misinterpreted or coerced -- but Burton said no such statement was included in the information USADA presented Monday.

Jones had requested the meeting after claiming her reputation had been damaged by media coverage of the case.

In a letter made public by the Jones camp, USADA Chief Executive Terry Madden responded: “USADA can only do its job. We cannot control what is in the media.

“I can assure you that athletes who have not been involved with doping have nothing to fear from USADA.”

The letter confirmed that Jones’ urine samples from previous tests had been routinely discarded after proving negative. But Madden pointed out that those tests did not look for numerous banned substances, including the recently discovered steroid THG, which federal prosecutors allege came from BALCO.

Madden also asked that Monday’s meeting be kept private.

Burton contacted reporters shortly afterward, saying the discussions were cordial but expressing disappointment in the outcome.

“I don’t know if, in fact, they have made up their minds,” he said of bringing a case. “What I do know, as of today, they didn’t give me what I wanted, which is to say that in their mind there is no evidence and no reason to go forward on any purported drug violation by Marion Jones.”

Jones, who has never tested positive in her career, has threatened to sue if authorities seek a ban using nonanalytical evidence.

“There is nothing more I can do,” she said. “It is time to allow me to put this issue behind me and focus all of my energy on where it should be focused -- bringing home some gold medals for the USA in Athens.”