What Marion Jones' Life In Prison Was Really Like
Marion Jones once had a promising career as a track star. During the 2000 Olympics, Jones impressed the masses when she made history as the first female to score five track and field medals at a single Olympics. However, news of her win was overshadowed by the announcement that her husband C.J. Hunter — who was a world shot put champion — tested positive for steroid use, according to The Washington Post. Hunter quickly denied the allegations and appeared to be baffled at the results. "I don't know what has happened and I don't know how it has happened," he said during a 2000 press conference, per ESPN. "I promise everybody I'm going to find out."
Due to the backlash that ensued after Hunter was accused of taking steroids, Jones found it difficult to steer away from the bad press and decided to file for divorce. "We have determined that this course is best for our respective futures," she said in a statement obtained by CBC Sports.
While Jones was beginning to remove herself from the stigma that followed her ex-husband, she found herself back at the center of national headlines after she was accused of using steroids during the 2000 Olympics, per CNN. It all came to light after federal agents raided BALCO, the California-based lab servicing these high-profile athletes, back in September 2003. Founder Victor Conte identified Jones as one of his customers and admitted to selling her performance-enhancing drugs. His confession marked the beginning and the end of her career.
Marion Jones admitted to using steroids
Victor Conte wasn't the only person who accused Marion Jones of using steroids. According to the Los Angeles Times, C.J. Hunter — Jones' ex-husband — recounted to federal agents about the time he administered the chemical to his then-partner, and he confessed to seeing Jones take it on her own as well. The former track star denied the allegations and claimed that Hunter was disgruntled over their divorce. However, even though Jones passed two drug tests and was "cleared of doping charges," per NPR, she was masking the truth.
In 2007, the athlete shocked the world after she confessed to using steroids back in 2000 in preparation for the Olympics in which she took home five medals, per People. "It is with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you that I betrayed your trust," she said at a news conference. "I have let my country down and I have let myself down." Her admission of guilt not only upset her fans, but also landed her in jail for lying to federal agents. As a result, Jones was sentenced to six months in prison, 800 hours of community service, and two years of supervised release, according to ABC News. "I absolutely realize the gravity of the offenses I've committed," Jones said in court. "I want to apologize."
Although she appeared to be remorseful, Jones still needed to pay for her crimes — and prison turned out to be painful lesson of a lifetime.
Marion Jones said prison was 'hell'
Marion Jones spent six months at Carswell federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas and experienced an incredibly tough time during her stint. In 2010, she released her memoir "On the Right Track" as a tool to encourage others to make better decisions. The former track star recounted a traumatizing encounter she had with a fellow inmate after she was attacked over a laundry miscommunication. "I felt like my life was in danger," she wrote (via The Sydney Morning Herald). "I hit her in the face with my cooler and kicked her in the ribs."
As a result of their altercation, Jones spent 48 days in solitary confinement and described the experience as "the next stop to hell." In addition to the "violent and filthy" prison conditions, the former athlete told CNN she had a lot of time to think about what she had done and couldn't believe this was her life. "How in the world is my worst nightmare actually happening," she said. "There were nights that were extremely hard missing my family and everything." Jones recounted crying most nights and having to shift her perspective after seeing so many women who were serving longer sentences.
Despite her grueling experience behind bars, when Jones was released, there was another set of consequences she had to face.
Marion Jones was stripped of her medals
When Marion Jones was released from prison, she spoke to a crowd of reporters about her actions and assumed responsibility for what she had done. "Making these false statements to federal agents was an incredibly stupid thing for me to do," the Associated Press reported. "I have no one to blame but myself for what I have done," she added.
In addition to Jones' bid, the International Olympic Committee made the decision to remove Jones' name from their record books, took away all five of her medals, and indefinitely banned her from any future Olympics, per ESPN. "I put myself in a position to have somebody else determine my immediate future," Jones said during an interview with Oprah. "I made that decision. I have to live with it."
Although Jones had retired from track and field back in 2007, she attempted to make a comeback as a professional basketball player for the WNBA, per The New York Times. "I thought it would be an interesting journey if I decided to do this," she said. However, her dream was short-lived after only spending a year with Tulsa Shock. According to KXAN, Jones lives in Austin, Texas, where she is a business owner, personal trainer, and motivational speaker.