Detroit: Sprinter Marion Jones became the latest big name to be caught in the anti-doping dragnet on Friday, joining a growing list of American drug cheats who are finding there is no place left to hide.

Under pressure from government and public opinion to rid sports of performance-enhancing drugs, the US Olympic Committee (USOC) along with the nation's big four professional leagues - the MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA - have been forced to implement stronger testing that has peeled back the facade of a level playing field to expose a deep-rooted doping culture.

"Now American journalists who are complete homeboys for their sports are starting to look at these things with a different eye," World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound told Reuters. "Media is aware of it, parents are aware of it, athletes are aware of it.

Serious sanctions

"Now that there are serious sanctions in place the police are willing to put in the time necessary to do it.

"You're dealing with systematic, organised, well-financed cheating and people who lie. You have to be able to go to them and say, 'We know this is what you're doing and get out,'" Pound said.

Jones' admission that her triple gold medal performance at the 2000 Summer Games was powered by performance-enhancing drugs comes just weeks after Tour de France winner Floyd Landis was found guilty of doping and stripped of his title.

The five-time world champion is also likely to be stripped of many of her titles, including all five Olympic medals from Sydney, unless she decides to give them up first.

"After years of denying that she used banned substances, Ms Jones has finally decided to come forward and admit the truth," USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth said in a statement.

"Her admission is long overdue and underscores the shame and dishonour that are inherent with cheating. Like any athlete who breaks the rules, Ms Jones has earned whatever punishment the legal and anti-doping systems allow.

"Her acceptance of responsibility does not end with today's admission, however, as further recognition of her complicity in this matter, Ms Jones should immediately step forward and return the Olympic medals she won while competing in violation of the rules.

Dirty secrets

"As a result of the choices she made, Ms Jones has cheated her sport, her teammates, her competitors, her country and herself," Ueberroth said.

Once sports' dirty little secret, doping has hit the front pages in the United States as anti-doping crusaders add to their growing collection of high-profile scalps. Jones had been under scrutiny by the US Anti-Doping Agency in connection with the BALCO laboratory doping scandal that has implicated some of American sports' biggest names, from former 100-metre world record holders Tim Montgomery and Justin Gatlin to baseball slugger Barry Bonds.

"Her admission underscores the shame and dishonour that are inherent with cheating."

Jones through the years

- Won gold medals in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4x400-metre relay in Sydney. She also took bronze in the long jump and 4x100-metre relay, which still made her the first woman to win five medals in a single Olympics.

-Jones has long been tied to BALCO, the California nutritional supplement company at the centre of US sports world's steroid scandal. BALCO founder Victor Conte repeatedly accused Jones of using performance enhancers.

- Jones had never failed a drug test until 2006 when traces of the banned substance EPO were found. She was cleared when a backup test proved negative.

- Jones is currently married to former sprinter, Obadele Thompson of the Bahamas.

-The Los Angeles Times reported Jones had serious financial troubles. Many of her debts stemmed from legal bills as she fought doping allegations.

- In her prime, Jones earned millions of dollars through product endorsements and up to $80,000 per race.

(Sources: Reuters, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and sportsillustrated.cnn.com/