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Gaines to appeal loss of Olympic medals


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/11/08

Former Olympian and Georgia Tech athletic staff member Chryste Gaines wants to appeal the International Olympic Committee's decision to strip her and seven others of Olympic relay medals won with admitted steroid user Marion Jones.

"I think the decision is wrong and we are going to appeal to [the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport] if we can find the money to pay for the attorney fees," Gaines said in a statement Friday.

The IOC ruled Thursday that Jones' admission last fall that she was doping at the time of the 2000 Olympics tainted her two relays, the 400- and 1,600-meter relays that won bronze and gold, respectively.

Gaines, an academic advisor in the Tech athletics department, was a member of the 4x100 relay.

Jones, serving a six-month prison term for lying to federal investigators about doping, has already returned the five medals she won in Sydney.

The matter could complicate Gaines' attempt to qualify for this year's Olympic team. Gaines, 37, is joined in her desire to appeal with six other teammates, according to the Washington Post.

The U.S. Olympic Committee said it supports the IOC's decision but respected the athletes' right to appeal.

Gaines said that the medal has "been sitting in my house seven years. What does it mean to anyone else?"

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