The End of the Road

 

For decades, the community of our walking billboards have flourish in the usage of substance abuse in order to enhance their performance. Throughout society, athletes have been viewed to run the extra mile in order to gain the reward of competitive advantage, despite of laws that prohibit the use of artificial performance enhancers.

 

On October 5, 2007, Olympics' Shirley Temple revealed disturbing and shocking news to the world. Jones admitted that she lied to the federal agents about the usage of steroids prior to the Sidney Olympics 2000. She also admitted to false statements made in reference to a check-fraud case and the BALCO case. In the case of BALCO matter, Jones denied the usage of the steroid, Tetrahydrogestrinone to the federal agents. The track star stated that Trevor Graham, Jones' coach supplied her with Tetrahydrogestrinone assuring Jones that the substance was simply flaxseed oil supplements. The distorted track star also stated that she had only consumed the drug while training under Trevor Graham. Thus, when the federal agents asked Jones about consuming steroids while presenting to her a sample of Tetrahydrogestrinone, she claimed that she panicked thus denying the consumption of Tetrahydrogestrinone. [1]

 

In October 2007, Jones pleaded guilty to the Southern New York Court District. In response to such a brave yet disgraceful confession, Jones was stripped of her American and Belizean passports until her sentence was adjudicated upon. On January 11, 2008, America’s darling was sentenced six months in prison due to her plea bargain.[2]

 

On December 12 2007, the unexpected happened changing the life of Marion Jones-Thompson forever. She takes her first walk through exile as her fans, her nation, and the world turn away. The once loved and adored track star was stripped of her Olympic medals by the International Olympic Committee, for the Sidney Olympics 2000. Moreover, in 2008, the Olympics Shirley Temple was banned from China Olympics 2008, which included leisure purposes.

Do We Shun Our Fallen Walking Billboard?

 

Athletes throughout the history of sports have been viewed as walking billboards. They simply reflect and embody who we are as a nation, a culture, and a society. As a result, many athletes feel obligated to guarantee their nations and societies with wins. In most cases, they refuse to let down their nations with a lost, even if it entails a sliver medal. Athletes will do what ever it takes to appease their fans. What happens to an athlete when she lets society down? Does society overlook this omen and welcome the athletes warmly? On the other hand, is society disgusted with the athlete for embarrassing that society and every individual that comprises that society?

 

Peter Ueberroth, Chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee ~ " step forward and return the Olympic medals...Marion Jones is long overdue and underscores the shame and dishonor that are inherent with cheating."[3]

 

Lamine Diack, IAAF president ~ "Marion Jones will be remembered as one of the biggest frauds in sporting history".[3]

 

Debbie Ferguson, Bahamian Olympic gold medalist ~ "She needs to go to jail. That's just how I feel. She robbed Pauline of her gold medal in Sydney, she robbed me of my gold medal in Edmonton".[4]

 

 

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