The International Olympic Committee has not yet decided on the issue concerning the gold medals won by Marion Jones's teammates at the 2000 Olympic Games. The discussions go back and forth on whether the medals should be taken away from the athletes or not.

After pleading guilty on two counts of lying to federal investigators about the performance-enhancing drugs, Marion Jones was stripped of her five medals, which included gold for the 400-meter race and also for the 1,600-meter one.

The main debate is upon the fact that they are considering a penalty for a group of innocent athletes.

"We believe, very unfortunately, that the medals were not won fairly," said USOC chief executive officer Jim Scherr, according to USA Today. "That, as Marion has admitted to a doping offense during those Games and ran in the finals, those medals were not won fairly. Although we do believe the athletes have the right to defend their medals should the IOC decide to strip them of their medals."

Jearl-Miles Clark, Monique Hennagan, LaTasha Colander-Richardson and Andrea Anderson participated for the 1,600-meter. The 400 relay was won with Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards, Nanceen Perry and Passion Richardson. In the event of an negative outcome, the athletes will be able to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Marion Jones is currently serving a six-month jail sentence for lying about steroid use and has permanently retired from all sport related activities. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, she became the first woman to ever claim five medals during a single festivity, with three golds and two bronzes.