Jones, who was released from prison last month after serving six months for lying to federal prosecutors about her steroid use, was stripped of her three gold and two bronze Sydney Olympic medals by the International Olympic Committee.

'It wasn't as difficult to give back the medals because it's not about the hardware,' the 33-year-old told Winfrey in a taped interview, which will be broadcast in the United States on Wednesday. 'But it's the memory that will be tarnished.'

Jones admitted last year to lying to prosecutors about her steroid use and was also found guilty of misleading investigators about a cheque fraud case involving her ex-boyfriend, former 100-metres world record holder Tim Montgomery.

Jones said she remembered the moment she decided to lie about her drug use - when prosecutors showed her a sample of tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), which was also known as 'the clear'.

'I knew that I had taken that substance, I made the decision that I was gonna lie and I was gonna, you know, try and cover it up,' she said.

Jones broke down in tears while reading from a letter she wrote to her children while in prison.

'I truly believe that the reason I made the awful mistake and a few thereafter was because I didn't love myself enough to tell the truth.' -- REUTERS