Athens - Olympic Games 100m silver medallist Lauryn Williams has pleaded with US track officials not to turn their backs on Marion Jones, believing she holds the key to a sprint relay gold here.
Jones, who has become embroiled in the doping scandal which has swept across American track and field despite not having failed a drugs test, didn't qualify for the 100m in Athens, where she would have been defending her title.
Instead, she was only lined up to take part in the long jump.
But Williams insists that Jones is the difference between gold and silver for the American sprint relay team.
"I hope she gets in the team," said the 20-year-old who was edged out for gold in Saturday night's 100m final by Belarus's Yulia Nesterenko.
"I judge Marion as a person and not by what others may think.
"She has always been good to me, and when I won the silver, she texted me straight away to congratulate me.
"She even said that had I run through the finish in the final, rather than dip at the line, I probably would have won the gold.
"I really hope to work with Marion in the relay, because with her we can win the relay gold."
Williams also said that she will make a prize of her silver medal to her father, who has been battling cancer for 15 years.
"He was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1989 and, as a result, he suffered kidney failure," said the American.
"He's in remission now but has to go through regular dialysis.
"He lives for his daughters and it was his wish to see me run in the Olympic Games, so when I get the medal I will give it to him as a gift."
Her father almost didn't make it to the Olympic Stadium.
For the heats, he didn't have his ticket while for the semi-finals, he had problems getting past security.
Williams, who ran a personal best on 10.96 on Saturday, said she had no problems getting beaten by Nesterenko who was only the 113th fastest woman in the world last year.
"She has had some good form and respectable times. I got beat fair and square, and I wish her all the best."
