By Tom Knight

The International Association of Athletics Federations are hoping that Marion Jones will help educate the world's youngsters on the perils of taking drugs and then lying about it.

This path to possible redemption will happen only after Jones has served the six-month prison sentence imposed yesterday by a federal judge in White Plains, New York. In the most dramatic fall from grace for the former three-time Olympic champion, Jones, 32, was jailed on two counts of lying to federal investigators.

She had earlier pleaded guilty to lying to investigators looking into the San Francisco-based nutrition company, Balco doping scandal about her use of performance-enhancing drugs and, as part of another inquiry, lying about her knowledge of a cheque fraud involving her former partner, the disgraced sprinter, Tim Montgomery.

Despite her tearful pleas for leniency, the mother of two was told by District Judge Kenneth Karas that "nobody...