Champion sprinter Jones denies writing check to BALCO
By Times Staff and Wire Reports
Published April 25, 2004
NEW YORK - A $7,350 check from track star Marion Jones' bank account was written to the founder of the California lab at the center of a performance-enhancing drug scandal, the New York Times reported Saturday.
The newspaper said the check was written to Victor Conte of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. Jones said she had no knowledge of the check.
"I never signed, endorsed, agreed upon or sent any checks to BALCO," Jones said.
While Jones' lawyers declined to say who had signed the check, the newspaper reported the signature belonged to C.J. Hunter, Jones' former husband who once was an elite shot putter. The check was deposited Sept.8, 2000, a week before the Sydney Olympics.
PENN RELAYS: The United States dominated in all six relay events - with Jones anchoring two events - in the "U.S. vs. the World" races in Philadelphia. Jones anchored the 800- and 400-meter relays. Americans also won the men's 400 and 800, and men's and women's 1,600.
PARIMUTUELS: Derby loses Sinister G
Sinister G will not run in the Kentucky Derby because of a lingering cough, reshuffling the list of automatic qualifiers. Sinister G was 16th on the list of graded stakes earnings for 3-year-olds. Only the top 20 qualify for the May1 Derby. Song of the Sword moved into the field.
DERBY TRIAL: Trainer Nick Zito's Sir Shackleton held off Courageous Act by 13/4 lengths in the $110,800 Grade III race for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs.
GREYHOUNDS: Cira's Black Tip and WW Raise The Bar collected win points in the third round of the Gold Trophy Juvenile at Derby Lane. The semifinals are Wednesday night.
RUNNING: Record falls in Marathon
A West Palm Beach personal fitness instructor broke a 12-year-old record and won the overall women's division at the Seven Mile Bridge Run in Marathon. Defending champion Sonja Friend-Uhl, 33, finished in 37 minutes, 55 seconds, topping the 39 minutes set in 1992 by Christine Mette. Gary Gates, 39, of Fort Lauderdale topped the men in 35:48.
DRAFT DAY DASH: Land O'Lakes' Lee Stephens (15:46) and Clearwater's Vicki Stum (17:57) won the men's and women's divisions, respectively, in the 5K Tampa race.
SOCCER: Legend back on respirator
Diego Maradona was put back on a respirator as he battles serious heart and lung problems. The 43-year-old has been in intensive care in Buenos Aires, Argentina, almost a week. The return to the respirator was meant to assist his breathing but did not mark any worsening of his health, according to a medical update.
MLS: Damani Ralph scored Chicago's first goal of the season on Freddy Adu bobblehead doll day to lift the Fire 1-0 over host D.C. United. Adu, 14, didn't enter until the 72nd minute, the least he has played in four games.
WOMEN WIN: Ex-Florida star Abby Wambach scored twice, powering the U.S. women 5-1 over Brazil in Birmingham, Ala., in a tuneup for the Athens Olympics.
ET CETERA
BOXING: Vitali Klitschko left Corrie Sanders battered and bloodied and unable to fight back in Los Angeles. Klitschko won the WBC heavyweight title vacated by Lennox Lewis' retirement when referee John Schorle stopped the fight at 2:46 of the eighth.
CYCLING: Lance Armstrong held the lead in the Tour de Georgia in Hiawassee with a third-place finish. Colombia's Cesar Grajales won Stage 6 in 5:16.29. Armstrong (22:19.05) led German Jens Voigt by :24. Today is the final stage.
TENNIS: Venus Williams routed Katarina Srebotnik 6-1, 6-2, pulling the Americans even with host Slovenia after the first day of the Fed Cup. Tina Pisnik downed ex-Gator Lisa Raymond 7-5, 7-5.
