WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. track star Marion Jones, who surrendered her Olympic medals after admitting to doping, was sentenced Friday to six months in prison.

Jones, 32, pleaded guilty in October to lying to federal investigators in 2003 during a larger sports doping investigation and a check fraud case. At the same time she admitted to using a banned substance from September 2000 to July 2001 -- during the Sydney Olympic Games.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas ordered Jones to serve a six-month prison sentence -- the maximum sentence under a plea agreement -- two years supervised probation and 400 hours of community service. Jones's attorneys had requested no jail time be served.

Karas said the prison sentence was necessary "because of the need for general deterrence and the need to promote respect for the law."

Jones won Olympic gold medals in the 100 and 200 sprints and as part of the 1,600 relay and bronze medals in the 400 relay and long jump. She has returned the medals and money awards. She has also retired from competitive track.

Pacers' Harrison suspended for five games

NEW YORK, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Indiana Pacers center David Harrison was suspended by the NBA for five games for an anti-drug program violation, the team said Friday.

The suspension is to begin Saturday, when the Pacers play at Sacramento, and end Jan. 23.

"We are very disappointed with the news that David Harrison has been suspended," Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird said in a statement released by the team. "This is a private matter and we will do what we can to provide David any help going forward."

No details of the violation were released.

Harrison averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds over 27 games this season.

Figure skater Christopher Bowman dead

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Christopher Bowman, a two-time U.S. figure skating champion, has been found dead in a Los Angeles motel. He was 40.

Lt. Joe Bale of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office said Bowman, who won the top prize at the U.S. Championships in 1989 and 1992, was found dead Thursday of a possible drug overdose, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. The coroner's office hadn't determined Thursday whether the death was accidental or a suicide, the report said.

Bowman, who was nicknamed "Bowman the Showman" for his skills on the ice, finished second at the 1989 world championships and followed the performance with a third-place finish the next year. He narrowly missed earning a medal at the 1992 Games with a fourth-place finish.

Bowman moved to Los Angeles last year to coach skating, the Times said.

Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic figure skating gold medalist, praised Bowman's talent.

"If I had to pick the three most talented skaters of all time, I would pick Christopher as one," Boitano told the Times. "He had natural charisma, natural athleticism, he could turn on a crowd in a matter of seconds and he always seemed so relaxed about it."

Knoblauch: 'I have nothing to hide'

HOUSTON , Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Former New York Yankees player Chuck Knoblauch said in his first statement since being named in the Mitchell report on doping that he has "nothing to hide."

Knoblauch, who the report alleged purchased human growth hormone from Brian McNamee, the personal trainer of Knoblauch's former teammate, Roger Clemens, and began using the substance in 2001, didn't specifically comment on the allegations but indicated that he isn't worried by the investigation, The New York Times reported Friday.

Major League Baseball officials commissioned the investigation, led by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine. It was released Dec. 13.

"I have nothing to defend," Knoblauch said. "I have nothing to hide at the same time."

The former player said he has not had any contact with Clemens or Andy Pettitte, who are also alleged to have purchased performance-enhancing drugs from McNamee. Pettitte has admitted to HGH use. Clemens has vehemently denied the allegations.

Knoblauch told the Times he hasn't been contacted by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which expects him to appear alongside his two former teammates at a Feb. 13 hearing.

"I read my name in the paper and see it on the news but I haven't heard a word," Knoblauch said. "I'm supposed to be somewhere but I haven't been told where to be."