Eight short years ago, Marion Jones was the pride of the US -- raking in medals at the Sydney Olympics. Then things fell apart when it was revealed that Jones took performance-enhancing drugs. She was stripped of her medals and was sentenced to time in prison for lying to federal prosecutors. In her first interview since her release, Jones spoke to Oprah about what really happened.

According to Jones, her former coach, Trevor Graham, gave her pills he described as flax seed oil. Jones, who took numerous substances such as vitamins and creatine, didn't question what he was giving her. Jones said she was instructed to put the tablet under her tongue for a while and then swallow it. Later, during the investigation, prosecutors showed Jones a vial of a designer steroid nicknamed "the clear." Jones now admits that she recognized it immediately as the substance her coach had given her. "I made the decision I was going to lie and try to cover it up," explained Jones. "I knew that all of my performances would be questioned."

There's a lesson for all athletes here. From the average Joe to the high school quarterback to elite athletes -- we're all responsible for what we put into our bodies. Supplements such as whey protein and creatine are frequently used by athletes. But even legal supplements shouldn't be used without knowledge and caution. Proper nutrition, consistent exercise, and appropriate training are your best bets for keeping your body in peak condition.

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One of the most devastating aspects of fighting cancer can be the long and exhausting courses of treatment. From what I've read and heard, dealing with the physical and emotional after-affects of chemotherapy and radiation can be as difficult as dealing with the disease itself.

A test developed by a scientist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia promises to ease some of the suffering associated with cancer treatments. Basically, a dye is injected into patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation, and molecules in the die attach to any dead or dying cancer cells, allowing doctors to see whether or not the treatment is actually working.

Until now, patients had to endure entire courses of treatment that could last up to six months before being able to assess whether or not their tumors where shrinking, had stayed the same or were growing larger. If the treatment hadn't worked, patients would have to undergo a new, exhausting course of treatment. The new dye test will hopefully allow doctors to tell right away whether or not the treatment on a particular patient is working based on whether or not there is evidence of dead or dying cancer cells.

Hopefully the test will cut down on the trauma associated with chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

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It's a pretty well-known fact that obesity is on the rise among kids in a number of countries including the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. Not only do parents and kids need to commit to eating healthier, they also need to get way more exercise.

Normally, I would encourage any number of activities that would get kids moving, but I think that the pole-fitness classes being offered at gyms in Sydney, Australia, are absolutely ridiculous. The idea is that pre-teens and teens can take non-sexualized classes that are designed to build muscle strength and increase fitness and confidence using exercises done on a traditional-looking pole-dancing bar.

While supporters of the class say that they're a great way for kids to get fit and add that they're "not slutty", I think that for any exercise involving children, the words "not slutty" shouldn't come up at all. What's wrong with getting outside for a bike ride, joining a soccer team or taking a swimming class? There are so many other ways for kids to increase their fitness, I don't see why pole-classes are even necessary.

What do you think? Is any exercise good exercise for kids or are kids' pole-classes totally inappropriate?

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