Marion Jones given six months in prison

By Christine Kearney

WHITE PLAINS, New York (Reuters) - Disgraced sprinter Marion Jones was sentenced to six months in prison on Friday for lying to federal prosecutors about her steroid use, a stunning downfall for the five-time Olympic medalist.

District Court Judge Kenneth Karas imposed the sentence after Jones pleaded guilty to two charges last October, when she retired from athletics and tearfully confessed to betraying the trust of her fans after years of denying she used performance enhancing drugs.

"Your honor, I absolutely realize the gravity of these offenses and I am deeply sorry," Jones told the judge, crying as she begged not to be separated from her two young sons.

"I pray that you be as merciful as a human being can be."

Karas gave Jones six months for lying about steroid use and two months -- to run concurrently -- for misleading federal investigators about a check fraud case involving her ex-boyfriend, former 100-metres world record holder Tim Montgomery.

After hearing her punishment, Jones sobbed into the shoulder of her husband, Olympic sprinter Obadele Thompson.

She has until March to turn herself over to authorities.

"I truly hope that people will learn from my mistakes," she said later in a brief statement to reporters.