WASHINGTON, May 2: Seven of Marion Jones’ relay team-mates filed an appeal on Thursday with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) seeking to retain their 2000 Olympic medals.

Jones had her medals stripped last year after admitting to doping during the Sydney Games. Last month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) disqualified her relay partners, conceding none of the athletes broke any rules.

Jones teamed with Jearl-Miles Clark, Monique Hennagan, LaTasha Colander-Clark and Andrea Anderson to win the 1,600-metre relay, and with Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards, Nanceen Perry and Passion Richardson to claim the bronze in the 400.

Perry is not a part of the case.

The runners had refused to give up their medals, saying it would be wrong to punish them for Jones’ violations.

“These young women athletes have done nothing wrong and any attempt to alter their results or revoke their medals violates the Olympic Charter and all the rules that were in effect in 2000, as well as all internationally accepted concepts of due process and natural justice,” said their attorney, Mark Levinstein.

Last week, Levinstein announced the women were seeking funding for their defence through the newly created Innocent Olympic Athletes’ Legal Defence Fund.

He said on Thursday they have not raised significant funds, but he has agreed to go forward with their defence.

Levinstein added he wasn’t sure what the defence would cost.

He said defending the relay partners of Jerome Young, who had his 2000 gold medal stripped for a positive doping test a year before the games, cost about $190,000.

“I just can’t leave them,” Levinstein stated. “These are good people who didn’t do anything wrong.”

A statement Levinstein sent on Thursday said the US Olympic Committee has refused to support the women or join them in their appeal.—AP