A disciplinary Commission has been set up to investigate recent allegations of doping against Marion Jones, Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), announced today.

The commission, Rogge said, has been set up to investigate the nature and circumstances of recent allegations made by Mr. Victor Conte to the media regarding aspects of his activities as head of the Balco laboratory. In an interview aired last Friday on the ABC television program "20/20," Conte said that he had supplied Jones with a variety of banned performance-enhancing drugs prior to and after the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, and alleged that he watched the sprinter inject herself with Human Growth Hormone (HGH).

Jones won five medals at the Sydney Olympics, including three gold. Jones has denied using any banned substances and has never tested positive. Last weekend, Jones said she and her attorney were considering legal action against Conte.

The commission will be responsible for conducting an investigation and present a report to the IOC Executive Board, the body which has the authority to take decisions in relation to the Olympic Games.

"The allegations made by Mr. Conte are extremely serious and the IOC is fully committed to bringing to light any elements that will help the truth prevail," Rogge said.

For more on Jones, see TPR #108 (10-June-2004) archived at www.trackprofile.com/tpr108.html.