Marion Jones' losing game

Marion Jones' tearful apology for lying about using banned drugs to improve her performance as an Olympic sprinter, and her decision to return her five Olympic medals from 2000, have garnered positive comments for her contrition and candor. But like the spreading investigation into the use of steroids by other athletes who were clients of the BALCO drug laboratory, this story appears far from over.

Ms. Jones evidently confessed to lying and returned the medals because she had no rational alternative. The Washington Post reported that federal attorneys had documentary proof of her use of BALCO drugs with which to refute her 2003 statement to the FBI denying steroid use. Her confession that she began taking the drugs before the 2000 Olympics automatically disqualified her as a medal winner.

But Ms. Jones continues to insist her drug taking was inadvertent. Last week she said she believed she was taking flaxseed oil given her by her coach until her suspicions were aroused in 2002, and she learned she had been taking a steroid known as "the clear." Her statement echoed the claim by home run king Barry Bonds that he, too, believed he was only taking flaxseed oil from BALCO. A grand jury is considering whether to bring charges against Mr. Bonds, according to the Post.

Another question now inevitably arises about Ms. Jones' victories in races before the 2000 Olympics. Her confession to the use of steroids covers only the period from 2000 to 2003, for which federal agents had compiled evidence.

And what of the gold medals her relay teammates won with her at the 2000 Games? Those, too, clearly should be returned.

But the most troubling question prompted by the downfall of Marion Jones is this: How many other athletes, famous and otherwise, have been using performance-enhancing drugs in the quest to achieve sports stardom?