What Happens If They Don't Return The Medals?

Factual Questions
1

As we all know, Marion Jones admitted that she competed in the 2000 Olympics while taking illegal performance enhancing drugs. As a result, she voluntarily returned the medals she won at that Olympiad.

However, she also won two medals (a gold and a bronze) in team events in 2000. The powers that be are still trying to decide if her teammates in those events need to return their medals as well.

My question is this: suppose they are “asked” to return their medals and they refuse. Of course the IOC can easily wipe their accomplishments off the books, but what about the physical medals? Can they really force them to be returned? If they refuse can be charged with theft? Do the medals belong to the athletes or do they remain property of the IOC with the understanding that the athletes can “hold on to them?”

In short, if they are asked to return them and they refuse, what happens to the athletes and/or the physical medals?

Zev Steinhardt

2

From what I’ve heard…nothing. All they can do is ask, and considering I think their records are going to be wiped out whether they agree to give them back or not, IMO there’s really nothing to gain by giving them back either.

3

Since Olympic athletes have sold their medals, I guess they must belong to them not the IOC. And once it’s been sold, I’m not sure at all how they could force a return.

4

Maybe they send OJ Simpson to retrieve them?