WASHINGTON, July 22: Disgraced Olympic champion Marion Jones has asked US President George W. Bush to commute her six-month prison sentence for lying to government agents about her use of performance-enhancing drugs and a check-fraud scam.

The US Justice Department confirmed on Monday that Jones is among hundreds of convicted felons who have applied for presidential pardons or sentence commutations, but would provide no further details.

A pardon is an official act of forgiveness that removes civil liabilities stemming from a criminal conviction, while a commutation reduces or eliminates a person’s sentence.

Such applications are reviewed by the Justice Department, which makes a recommendation to the president.—AP