At 34, Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones is trying to rebuild her career in the sport that she first loved, basketball. After loosing almost everything she have, Jones is determined to prove that she can still play though not in the track and field anymore. During the BALCO investigation, Jones was charged for lying to a federal inquiry about her steroid use. She later admitted her use of performance enhancing substances, stripped off her 5 medals in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and spent 6 months prison term and doing community works as part of the sentence.

At first, Jones argued that what she took was the legal supplement flaxseed oil. She said that she did not know that “the clear” is the designer steroid THG. However, BALCO founder Victor Conte said that Jones took EPO and human growth hormone. This was also confirmed by investigators saying that Jones took not just THG but other steroids as well.

Her attempt to go back into the limelight was fulfilled when she was given a chance by the Tulsa Shocks. Although she did not played basketball for more than a decade, Jones was a star during her college years. She led North Carolina Tar Heels in the NCAA national championships in 1994. She was also drafted as the 3rd round pick of the Phoenix Mercury for the WNBA in 2003 but did not play in that season.

Her debut in the Shocks draws standing-room-only crowd with some international media outfit covering the game. She played for just more than 3 minutes on her first game but was not able to contribute any point for the team. They lost to Minnesota Lynx for 80-74.

WNBA president Donna Orender defended their decision to allow Jones to play for the Tulsa and WNBA. The head of the WNBA clarified that they are not using Jones as a publicity stunt. “Marion had to prove that she could play because we have rosters of 11 (players) and competition is so intense, I don’t think anyone has a position to give up for a gimmick,” Orender said. The attitude of Jones is one of the important things that they considered. “We think that’s an important value to stand behind,” said Orender.

Tulsa Shock coach Nolan Richardson is also hoping that Jones will be able to prove herself. “If Marion is as successful as I think she can be and will be, then it’s a plus-plus-plus for the WNBA and more than a triple plus for Tulsa and Oklahoma. Because Marion is global news,” he said. Coach Olaf Lange who also trained Jones was impressed with the skills of the former Olympian. “She still has tremendous athleticism, which is very helpful, and her basic skills — especially shooting and ballhandling — were still decent,” said Lange.

After a not so good episode in her life, Jones still wants to have an outlet for her competitive energy and the desire to be a living example to her children even if she will be scrutinized by the public again wrote Vicki Michaelis of the USA Today. “What we teach at home is that you make mistakes, you admit it, you accept the consequences, you move on, you make the wrong a right,” Jones said during an interview.

Michaelis also reported that Jones is doing speeches in schools since last fall to complete her 800 hours of community service. Jones has been delivering “Take a Break” speeches to school kids, in which she encourages them to pause before making impulsive and potentially harmful decisions like hers said Michaelis.

USADA Chief Travis Tygart is hoping that Jones will be able to impart good things to more people. “She just has a very, very important message that could be very powerful for millions of people, whether it’s youth or not, about the hows and whys of cheating and the consequence. The only way you can do that in an authentic fashion is to be completely open and transparent,” said Tygart.

Now the question is whether the public has already forgiven her. Her steroid use has tainted not just her reputation but the country’s track and field sport.

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