Jones pleads guilty over drugs use

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Former Olympic and world champion sprinter Marion Jones pleaded guilty on Friday to lying to federal investigators about having taken banned substances.

"He asked if I ever took performance enhancing drugs, and I answered not," she told a New York district court. "This was a lie. The false statements I made were material to the BALCO investigation."

Jones also pleaded guilty to a check fraud charge.

Federal sentencing guidelines suggest Jones could face a spell in jail.

After leaving the court in White Plains, an emotional Jones announced her retirement from track and field, saying she had betrayed the trust of her family, friends and supporters.

"I have let them down. I have let my country down, and I have let myself down," she said. "It is with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you I have betrayed your trust.

"I recognize that by saying I'm deeply sorry, it might not be enough and sufficient to address the pain and hurt that I've caused you. Therefore, I want to ask for your forgiveness for my actions, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

In court, seated at the defense table and speaking in a clear voice through a microphone, Jones admitted to doping and said she lied about it to investigators in 2003.

She said she was told by her then-coach Trevor Graham that she was taking flaxseed oil when it was actually steroids.

"By November 2003, I realized he was giving me performance-enhancing drugs," she told the judge.

Jones was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court Jan. 11 for sentencing.

The shattering admission could also cost her all five medals she won at the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney -- three of them gold. And Jones may not be the only one affected. The entire 4x400m women's relay team could lose their gold medals as a result.

The admission by the woman frequently called one of the greatest female athletes of her time could also have ripple effects throughout the sports world, particularly for the investigation into alleged doping by other high-profile athletes.

In a statement, the International Olympic Committee said the information Jones provides "may prove to be key" in advancing the IOC's investigation into how the so-called BALCO case may have "affected Olympic Games' competitions."

In 2005, BALCO founder Victor Conte pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering.

In 2004, Jones filed a $25 million defamation lawsuit against Conte, accusing him of trying to "destroy her career and reputation" when he said he had supplied her with performance-enhancing drugs.

"Since 2004, the IOC has had an open file on the BALCO case - it set up a Disciplinary Commission with a view to investigating how the case might have affected Olympic Games' competitions," the International Olympic Committee's statement says.

"Progress to date has been slow due to difficulties in gathering findings. The information that Marion Jones might provide later today may prove to be key in moving this case forward." E-mail to a friend

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