Lawyer: Jones Passes Lie Detector Test

Friday, June 18th 2004, 5:53 am

By: News On 6

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Marion Jones stepped up her public relations offensive by releasing results of a lie detector test her lawyer said proves she never took performance-enhancing drugs.

The move came just hours after she was accused of grandstanding by the international doping chief.

Jones and her legal team have sparred recently with IOC president Jacques Rogge, the United States Anti-Doping Agency and World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound in their attempt to clear the star sprinter of drug allegations.

The latest move by the five-time Olympic medalist involved taking a lie detector test Wednesday at her attorney's office and sending the results to USADA on Thursday.

``The passing of the polygraph just vindicates and supports fully the position Marion has taken through all of this time,'' Burton said on a conference call. ``That's the position that she never, ever used performance-enhancing drugs at any time from anybody at all. This polygraph examination fully proves that.''

USADA spokesman Rich Wanninger said the agency wouldn't comment on a specific case, but that ``all credible information will receive the appropriate consideration.''

Jones was asked two questions about performance-enhancing drugs by certified polygraph examiner Richard Homer, who determined she was telling the truth. Homer spent more than 20 years as a polygraph examiner for the FBI. Another examiner concurred after a blind analysis of the results.

The questions Jones was asked and answered ``no'' to were:

_ Did you ever personally use performance-enhancing drugs?

_ Are you now lying about any personal use of performance-enhancing drugs?

While the term ``performance-enhancing drugs'' was not defined, Burton said he took it to mean ``anything that was illegal or improper.''

Jones is one of the most prominent athletes who testified in a federal probe of a Bay Area drug lab accused of illegally distributing steroids.

USADA is investigating Jones for possible doping violations. She met with doping officials last month to discuss their evidence, and received a letter from the agency last week asking follow-up questions.

USADA is building cases based on documents and other circumstantial evidence deriving from the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative case. Athletes can be banned without a positive drug test.

``Certainly in our opinion, they have more than ample reason to close this matter and exonerate Marion Jones,'' Burton said. ``This matter should be over if there is any fairness in the process. ... Marion has done everything possible to put this matter behind her.''

Jones has testified before a federal grand jury, and answered questions in private from USADA officials last month. Burton said she would consider taking another lie detector test if USADA asked to conduct it.

She said in a news conference Wednesday she would only answer further questions from USADA in a public forum and called on the Senate to hold a hearing. Her legal team sent a letter Wednesday to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, to formally request a hearing.

Earlier Thursday, Pound said Jones' call for a public hearing was a ``grandstand performance,'' and he accused her of trying to avoid proper anti-doping hearing procedures.

``I don't think that an athlete for whatever reason is able to subvert that process,'' Pound said in a conference call from Montreal. ``I think it was very unfortunate that Marion was advised to use words like secret court with respect to USADA.''

Burton said Pound's comments make it clear that it is ``not a fair process.''

``We are seeing USADA's overseer directing the agency to take action in the absence of a positive test or any real facts,'' Burton said. ``This is outrageous, this is illegal, this is wrong and this is un-American.''