MELBOURNE, Jan 12: New World Anti-Doping Agency president John Fahey says former Olympic champion Marion Jones’ six-month prison sentence for lying to investigators about using performance-enhancing drugs should serve as a deterrent to doping in sport.

“I think we need to be clear that she was sent to jail for a breach of the US criminal code,” Fahey said. “But it is an example of how the work of WADA is making it more likely than ever that those who cheat in sport will be caught.”

Fahey supported U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas’ comments that he gave Jones the maximum under the plea deal to send a message to athletes who have abused drugs and overlooked the values of “hard work, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship.” “Very true, and it’s very hard to disagree with those comments,” Fahey told The Associated Press on Saturday from his home near Sydney. “Simply, it’s clear to me that the worldwide fight against drugs in sport will make it tougher and tougher for those who cheat to get away with it.”

Fahey, two weeks into his new job, will soon be packing his bags for Europe, the scene of his less-than-routine election last November and where he might have a few fences to mend.

“No big surprises so far,” Fahey said. “There are plenty of things happening all the time, but it’s not something I haven’t expected.”

Fahey said he was pleased to hear about a decision by Major League Baseball and the National Football League to join the US Olympic Committee to fund anti-doping research, contributing $3 million (euro2.05 million) each to create a drug-fighting partnership between those pro leagues and the Olympic federation.

The USOC is also giving $3 million (euro2.05 million) and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is giving $1 million (euro680,000) to the new Partnership for Clean Competition, a collaborative that will use the initial $10 million (euro6.82 million) to fund grants for research to combat performance-enhancing drugs in sports.

“It can only be welcome news,” Fahey said. “It’s clear to me that the more we can do in the way of research, the greater the results in detecting illegal drugs. The fight requires government and corporates to contribute.”—AP