Marion Jones ex-husband testifies |
U.S. sprinter Marion Jones, left, with her now former husband C. J. Hunter during a news conference at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Jones, scheduled to compete in the preliminary rounds of the 100 meters Friday at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, is being probed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for possible doping. She repeatedly has denied using any performance-enhancing substance.
The newspaper said C. J. Hunter refused to comment when asked why he was outside a San Francisco courthouse, but that his attorney, Angela De Ment, said she and Hunter flew from in from North Carolina as part of their cooperation with authorities.
Hunter, who won a shot put world title in 1999, tested positive for steroids four times in 2000 when he was married to Jones.
Jones, scheduled to compete in the preliminary rounds of the 100 meters Friday night at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Sacramento, is being probed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for possible doping. She repeatedly has denied using any performance-enhancing substance.
Hunter spoke with federal investigators and USADA officials last month. Jones was among the dozens of athletes who testified last fall before the BALCO grand jury.
Meanwhile, a federal judge set a hearing for Friday morning on a bid by USADA to get the grand jury testimony of four sprinters whom the agency has charged with doping.
A source familiar with the investigation, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night, said federal investigators have filed papers seeking to block the USADA from getting the testimony.
USADA officials earlier this week filed a motion seeking the testimony of Tim Montgomery, Chryste Gaines, Michelle Collins and Alvin Harrison before the BALCO grand jury. Montgomery, the world record holder in the 100, has a 1-year-old son with Marion Jones.
Also Thursday, a federal appeals court in New York affirmed a lower courts dismissal of a lawsuit brought by middle-distance runner Regina Jacobs challenging USADAs arbitration process. Jacobs tested positive for the steroid THG at last years U.S. championships, and her case now finally could go to arbitration.
We maintained from the beginning that this lawsuit was absolutely without merit, said Travis Tygart, USADAs director of legal affairs. We hope in the future that athletes will not resort to these frivolous attacks on the established process, which is fundamentally fair to all athletes.
Montgomery, Gaines, Collins, Harrison and Jacobs are set to compete in the Olympic trials that run through July 18.