Athletics: Marion Jones included in US team

Former triple Olympic champion Marion Jones has been included in the US team for this weekend's IAAF World Cup in Athens.

Jones has not yet confirmed her participation US track & field (USATF) said in a statement on Monday, although her manager said she was planning to compete in the 100 metres in Athens.

"Nothing has changed from last week," Charles Wells said in a telephone interview from his Texas office.

Wells said then Jones would race at the World Cup meeting and in Shanghai later this month.

Jones was cleared of doping last Wednesday after her "B" sample tested negative for the banned blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO).

Her initial sample had tested positive for the drug at the US championships in June. Had the second sample also been positive, she would have faced a two-year ban from the sport.

The 30-year-old has been under scrutiny by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in connection with the BALCO laboratory doping scandal but has never been charged with a doping offence.

She has repeatedly denied ever taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Jones is eligible for the World Cup as the US champion. She has until Friday to declare her intentions, USATF said.

If Jones competes in Athens, it will be a return to the Olympic Stadium where she failed to win a medal at the 2004 Games. That was in stark contrast to four years earlier in Sydney where she took three gold medals and two bronzes.

Jones had run poorly since having a son in 2003, but this season only Jamaica's Sherone Simpson has been faster than the American's 10.91 seconds. However, Jones has not competed since July 28.

- REUTERS