Track official opposes Jones' appeal

WASHINGTON, July 22 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush has been urged not to commute the six-month federal prison sentence of former Olympian Marion Jones, a letter shows.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Douglas Logan, CEO of USA Track & Field, said in a letter to Bush he should not keep Jones from serving her sentence for lying to federal agents about her use of performance-enhancing drugs and a check-fraud scam.

"I have a moral and practical duty to make the case against her request," said the letter that appears on the organization's Web site.

USA Track & Field is the national governing body for the sport.

Jones is among hundreds of convicted felons petitioning for presidential pardons and commutations, the newspaper said.

The gold medalist was convicted in January and entered a Fort Worth, Texas, prison in March. She gave up the three gold and two bronze medals she won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics after admitting in 2007 to taking performance-enhancing drugs.