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Sprint star Marion Jones wants her B, or confirmation, sample of a positive test for endurance-boosting EPO dealt with as soon as possible, she said in a statement Monday.
Howard Jacobs, hired Monday by Jones as her lawyer in the case, said he's not sure how soon that will be: "I have no idea. I'll see when we can get it scheduled."
Jacobs said Jones would have an expert on the EPO test, whom he declined to name, present at the B sample analysis.
Jones' positive A sample test occurred June23 at the USA Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis, where she won the 100 meters for her 14th national title.
"I was shocked when I was informed about the positive A sample," Jones' statement read. "I would also like to note that only my lawyers have the authority to speak on my behalf in this matter, and I will have no further comment until the results of the B sample are released."
Last weekend, Steve Riddick, Jones' coach for the past two seasons, told USA TODAY that it made no sense for Jones or any sprinter to take an endurance-boosting drug:
"When the B sample comes back, I say it will be negative and they'll say they made a mistake," Riddick said.
Jones' sample, according to Jacobs, is being tested at the UCLA laboratory run by Don Catlin, who has made several advances in drug testing, including for EPO.
"Don knows how to do these tests and do them right," said Jim Stray-Gundersen, an adjunct professor at the University of Utah and an expert on blood doping. "I don't think it's a plausible explanation to say, 'Well, the lab just got it wrong.'"
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