The day after athletes, parents and coaches at Columbia’s Wilde Lake High School learned of the dangers of doping, Marion Jones’ confession drove home the downside of steroids.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist faces six months in jail, but more importantly stands to loose her medals and be banned from professional competition. In the 2000 Olympics, she won gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 1,600-meter relay and bronze in the long jump and 400-meter relay.

“It’s disappointing to hear, obviously, because she is a great runner,” said Elizabeth Mackey, 16, a cross country and long distance runner at Wilde Lake. “It’s so sad that there’s so much pressure on Olympic athletes.”

Mackey said she would not be influenced to use steroids or other supplements to compete, but just loves running for it’s own sake. She plans to continue running after high school, but not professionally.

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At a Powered By Me campaign presentation Thursday night, Sheppard Pratt’s drug education counselor Mike Gimbel hammered home the point that anything other than hard work, exercise and a good diet is cheating yourself.

He suggested the hundred or so athletes consider a “sunshine test” to determine whether a drug or supplement is right to take. “What would you do if everyone you loved and respected knew what you were doing,” Gimbel said. “Would you be proud of yourself?”

The National College Athletic Association has a strict no doping, no supplements policy, he said, and the best way to succeed as an athlete is to keep clean from the start.

“The problem comes with the emphasis on winning at all costs,” he said.

Gimbel got a stronger reaction when he explained how much caffeine and other supplements are in energy drinks. Some start at the equivalent of four cups of coffee before you count the guarana, taurine and yerba mate.

“I don’t do school sports, but I figure skate,” said Cheyenne Falat, 16. “The coordinator provides energy drinks for us before a practice or a competition.”

The downside, Gimbel said, is caffeine dehydrates the body and leads to an energy crash. Add that to an intense workout and you have a recipe for disaster.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

khille@baltimoreexaminer.com