• US Sport

Female Olympic star reportedly involved in bar fight

July 17, 2013

Stories of professionals getting involved in incidents in bars and nightclubs are commonplace - but usually those involved are male. However, US bobsleigher Lolo Jones, who finished fourth in the 100m hurdles at the 2012 Olympics, struck a blow for equality when she reportedly knocked out a woman in a bar in Lake Placid at the weekend.

According to local reports, Jones and an unnamed woman got into an argument and were separated by bouncers. But that version of events, which was widely reported, was not accepted by the US Bobsled and Skeleton Federation whose CEO Darrin Steele said he did not believe any violations of the team's code of conduct occurred.

"That could change if new information emerges, but I'm not expecting that to happen at this point," Steele said. "It's a good reminder of why our athletes need to avoid putting themselves in situations where things like this can happen."

However, Fox Sports' Amy van Dyken claimed there has been a cover-up to protect the image of Jones who has brought a lot of attention to the world of bobsleigh. She said officials closed ranks "and said, 'No one whisper a word of this'."

Jones is a controversial figure with widespread criticism - even from some of her US track team-mates - over the level of attention and endorsements she receives. Four years earlier in Beijing, she was the favourite and was in position to win gold when she hit the ninth of 10 hurdles and wound up seventh.

Her lifestyle choices when it comes to dating and relationships are constant Twitter fodder. She once challenged former football player Eric LeGrand to a race without knowing he was paralysed, and recently raised eyebrows when she tried to make a joke about the $741 cheque she received for prize money won in sliding this past season.

This report contains material from ESPNW and Associated Press

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