Time's up on Marion Jones
When the Washington Post reports it, that's one thing. When the Associated Press confirms it, that's another.
When Marion Jones drops out of a meet for "personal reasons," the dots are connecting at a rapid pace.
The news breaking Friday night is that the Olympic sprint star out of Thousand Oaks High failed an initial doping test back at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in June, where she won the 100 meters.
AP says that "A" sample was positive for the performance enhancer EPO back in Indianapolis. If the "B" sample also shows up positive -- this is what happened recently to Tour de France supposed winner Floyd Landis -- then Jones would face a two-year ban from the sport, effectively ending any chance of her competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics in China.
Earlier in the day, the 30-year-old Jones pulled out of the Weltklasse Golden League meet. She gave no details. Her coach, Steve Riddick, told AP this was the first he'd heard of any positive test.