Belizeans disappointed but promise to support Jones
As Marion’s confession makes it way through the Belizean community, it’s hard to miss the disappointment felt by many. When Marion lifted the Belizean flag in Sydney for all the world to see, she lifted our spirits along with it, and that simple yet profound gesture ensured that she would always have a place in our hearts. The country was truly united in January 2001 when Marion was awarded our highest honour, the Order of Belize and named Sports Ambassador. But seven years later, Marion Jones is facing bankruptcy, her reputation is ruined, and she could very well go to jail. Today News Five’s Jacqueline Godwin spoke with family and fans of Marion Jones to gauge their reaction to what has become a national tragedy.
Godwin Hulse, Uncle, Marion Jones Thompson
“It is traumatic for her, she has her two children and so, but we are a tight family and she will come through it. I am personally, I believe in being straight forward, up front and honest whatever the consequences.”
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Tonight the Belizean people still in shock after National Hero and Sports Ambassador Marion Jones admitted she used steroids in preparation for the Olympic Games in Sydney Australia. Marion emerged the fastest woman in the world, running away with three gold and two bronze medals. But since then, the track star’s meteoric rise to fame has been tarnished by a series of allegations that she took performance enhancement drugs.
One of the first accusations came in 2004 when ex-husband CJ Hunter told investigators from the Internal Revenue Service that Jones used banned substances during and after the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Later that year, Victor Conte, owner of the Bay Area Lab Cooperative also testified that in 1999 he also supplied Jones with a designer steroid known as “The Clear” or EPO, a growth hormone and insulin that could not be detected in drug tests. Marion Jones repeatedly and vehemently denied the charges, even when Federal Agents started an official investigation in 2003. But this week, Jones sent a letter to family members, admitting she lied and that she had taking drugs. But Marion says at the time she thought her coach, Trevor Graham, was giving her flaxseed oil.
Godwin Hulse
“She didn’t know, I honestly believe she didn’t know. The substance that was given to all the athletes at the time and in fact as you all know, she failed no test, she failed no test. There were rigorous test; she failed none so she did not know.”
According to Godwin Hulse, when his niece discovered that she had taken the steroid, she immediately contacted her family who advised her to publicly confess.
Godwin Hulse
“When she discussed it with us, our reaction was tell the world, you know, it is good to confess and make a new start whatever the consequences are because she could fight it in court and she could win it, it is for lawyers to drain and deplete the little bit of resources she does have left, there is no point.”
“We are a pretty tight family so when my sister spoke to me, my first reaction was did she know at the time? And the response to that, both from her and from my sister, was that she didn’t know at the time. … It was subsequent long afterwards when all of this was going on and these laboratories were under investigation and even when it came to head and she decided no longer to use Trevor Graham as her coach and when she divorced C.J. Hunter. And I think there was a bit of bad mind and other stuff that entered in there, the story of which I don’t totally have clear, I will have when I go to New York. But that is where it all began to unfold.”
“She needs not hang her head; there is no sin in confessing. The sin may have been in not confessing early, but there is no sin in confessing.”
“It is unfortunate that a country that thrives on these kinds of things penalises those who make a slip. In fact, what she should have said is, yes I did take that substance, at the time I did not know. But she did not say at the time and that is tantamount to a lie, so it is a lie of omission if you like.”
But now that lie means the Olympian can be stripped of her five medals and face time behind bars.
Godwin Hulse
“She may lose her medals, she may serve jail time, but I don’t know if she stands to lose anything else because that child ran with her heart, she ran with her soul, she ran with her love, and she offered it to everybody around her including Belize and I don’t think she will lose that. I hope not.”
The news of Marion’s shame was received with mixed emotions.
Belizean #1
“Well I was happy that she came clean. I did suspect when the story first broke that there was a possibility that she did take something, so I am glad that she came clean. And as far as the flaxseed oil story, I thought that as well because flaxseed oil has a very distinct taste and you would know if it was that or not.”
Belizean #2
“I felt a little bit of disappointed that this happened to Marion, that she lied about it and everything, but I am still happy that Marion have shined and she let Belize felt very good for the moment, even though that this had happened. I still am a little bit shocked that it’s like this.”
Belizean #3
“I believe that most athletes under some way or the other use some type of enhancement performance for their boost, you know, boost up their system. And even here in Belize we try a lee thing, but we just noh have the people fi check the athletes.”
Belizean #4
“Well first I was quite surprised because she is actually one of Belize’s best and to hear that someone who represent Belize like that taking steroids is a disappointment.”
But amid the disappointment, some Belizeans pledge to support Marion during this difficult time.
Belizean #2
“Marion have a talent, no doubt about that and maybe she should try again and keep on going into this field. I think that without steroids I think that she can achieve, she can go further. that’s her talent.”
Belizean #1
“Yes, I think we should continue supporting her. I think that she works hard and sometimes we do fall along the way and I am glad that she has come clean and no I think that she’s on the right path.”
Belizean #4
“Yes, I believe that Belizeans should continue to support Marion because everyone makes mistakes and as I mentioned earlier, she’s one of Belize’s favourite athletes.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“What do you think is Marion’s message to Belizeans?”
Godwin Hulse
“I will have her say, but fundamentally my message would be to any young athlete or anybody, anybody at all, you be very careful with who you are dealing with. I mean they saw her as a good catch. I mean actually those people made millions of dollars off her and they will do anything to enhance that while she was simply running for the love of running and running with her heart.”
Jacqueline Godwin for News Five.
According to international press reports, the fate of Marion Jones’ Olympic medals will be decided by December.
