Truth Catches 'World's Fastest Woman'

Published: Oct 10, 2007

Olympic sprinter Marion Jones titled her 2004 autobiography "Marion Jones: Life in the Fast Lane."

The title was more revealing than she intended. She was indeed in the fast lane - racing to maintain an athletic career based on drugs and deceit.

Last week, after years of denial, she confessed she used performance-enhancing drugs while winning five medals in the 2000 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Her precipitous fall from grace does offer a lesson to all: Lies will catch up with you.

The American public, while generally forgiving, is unlikely to have much sympathy for someone who had lied with such brio.

"I am against performance-enhancing drugs. I have never taken them and I never will take them," she wrote in her book.

This is an American tragedy. The track star who once graced the cover of Time magazine now faces financial ruin and will likely serve time in prison for lying to federal prosecutors. Her teammates on the 400-meter relay also may have to give up their gold medals.

In the heady days after Melbourne, Jones said she wanted to serve as a role model for young women athletes. She has become one, but for all the wrong reasons.