Athletics-Jones, Montgomery seen at track centre with Francis
TORONTO (Reuters) - Triple Olympic champion Marion Jones and 100 metres
world record holder Tim Montgomery have been seen at the York University
Track and Field Centre with Ben Johnson's former coach Charlie Francis.
A Reuters photograph shows Canadian sprint coach Francis on his knees
helping American Jones stretch out at the Toronto centre, while her
compatriot Montgomery is beside them stretching with Jones's Canadian coach
Derek Hansen.
Francis received a lifetime ban from Athletics Canada after Canadian
sprinter Johnson tested positive for an anabolic steroid following his
world record 9.79 seconds in the 100 metres final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Francis and Johnson told a Canadian government inquiry in 1989 that the
sprinter had taken steroids since 1981. Johnson was later banned for life
after two further positive drug tests.
Last Saturday Francis was contacted by Reuters at his home in Toronto and
asked about reports he was training the world's fastest couple, Jones and
her partner Montgomery, but he said he never commented about anybody he
coached in any sport.
On Friday Jones said she had left long-time coach Trevor Graham because of
philosophical differences and would now work with Hansen.
Jones's agent Charlie Wells could not immediately be reached for comment on
Wednesday.
