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Bryan Sullivan Weighs in on Marion Jones Sentencing for Performance-Enhancing Drugs in A&E
Bryan Sullivan recently spoke to A&E about the sentencing of former Olympian Marion Jones, who took home five medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and later admitted to involvement in a doping scandal as well as lying to federal agents during the investigation.
After the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency received an anonymous tip that a steroid was being distributed by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) in 2003, a grand jury investigation into BALCO launched, implicating several athletes including Jones and MLB star Barry Bonds. Several figures, including BALCO’s founder, a BALCO executive, a track coach, and Bonds’ personal trainer, were indicted on charges including fraud, money laundering, and possession and intent to distribute illegal steroids. Bonds himself was later charged with perjury.
When Jones admitted to lying to federal agents during the investigation in 2007, she was sentenced to six months in prison, two years of probation, and 800 hours of community service – a harsher punishment than the men orchestrating the scandal and Bonds, who received 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation, and 250 hours of community service.
“Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice and giving an evasive answer to questions under oath, which is lesser than lying under oath—and that was before a grand jury,” Bryan tells A&E.
He continues to note that while Jones admitted to lying to investigators, Bonds’ statements while under oath did not legally qualify as lies.
“The difference is that she pled guilty to lying to investigators, and I don’t think he technically lied to investigators,” Bryan explains. “He was not accused of lying to investigators, whereas she was. I’ve been through a couple investigations like that, and they always say, ‘You’re not under oath, but lying to us is a federal crime,’ and that’s just for witnesses that weren’t even targets.”
Bryan also reminds readers that Jones’ predicament began when she was subpoenaed as part of the BALCO investigations after an anonymous tip back in 2003, urging anyone who receives a subpoena to seek out legal counsel immediately.
“Call a lawyer as soon as you get the subpoena,” he concludes. “Don’t try to talk your way out of it, because you don’t know what they know that led them to sending you the subpoena.”