Marion Jones, the former sprinter, has signed for the Women's National Basketball Association team the Tulsa Shock and is hoping to launch a new career after losing five Olympic medals for using steroids and being jailed for lying to federal prosecutors.
Jones, who was awarded gold medals for winning the 100m, 200m and 4 x 400m relays at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and two bronzes in the long jump and 4x100m, admitted two years ago that she had taken steroids before, during and after the Games and was stripped of her five medals. She also spent about six months in a Texas federal prison for lying about doping and her role in a cheque fraud.
Jones said playing for the Shock is not about her past but instead fulfils her dream of playing basketball against some of the best players in the world.
"The word redemption is not in my vocabulary," Jones said at a news conference, flanked by the team's president, Steve Swetoha, and coach Nolan Richardson. "I'm a competitor, I want to play against the best in the world, and I know that I will be doing that."