Sprinter Marion Jones will race in Milan next month despite reports which suggested she will not be invited to compete in Europe this summer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/4541375.stm Reports said that Jones and boyfriend Tim Montgomery would be excluded because of links to the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative. But race organisers said: "We can confirm the presence of Marion at the Grand Prix Regione Lombardia in Milan." However, organisers of the Essone meet in Paris have withdrawn their invite. The Balco scandal has rocked American sport with founder Victor Conte accused of supplying steroids. He also claims he gave Jones performance-enhancing drugs. British promoters Fast Track confirmed that the pair would not compete in Britain with a spokesman saying: "There's no presumption of guilt but they carry far too much baggage to be invited." Jones and Montgomery have both been active on the American circuit with Jones, 29, winning her first race of the season in the Caribbean. But Montgomery, who holds the world record for the 100m, has been charged by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) with serious doping violations. Usada has built its cases on verbal evidence given to the federal investigation into Balco rather than test results - neither Jones or Montgomery has ever failed a drugs test. Jones, who won five medals at the 2000 Olympics, has launched a defamation lawsuit against Conte. Gatlin targets victory in Qatar http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/4540447.stm Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin is the star attraction at the Qatar Super Grand Prix on Friday. The American runs in the 100m and will be up against Francis Obikwelu, the man he beat into second in Athens, and Olympic 200m champion Shawn Crawford. Home hopes will be focused on naturalised 3,000m steeplechase world champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen. The Kenyan-born Qatar international is hoping to set a world best in the 2,000m steeplechase. Shaheen competed for Kenya as Stephen Cherono before switching allegiances to the Gulf state for financial reasons in 2003. "I expect a fast race. I am sure people will enjoy the race tomorrow. I will certainly go for a new record," he said. ENDS
