Sports Minister Rod Kemp said Jones should lose all her medals if there was enough evidence to prove she used performance-enhancing drugs at the 2000 Games.

"No-one who cheats should have a medal," Kemp said.

"The case has got to be proven and there's got to be proper processes to make sure that is done.

"But there is no room on the winner's podium for a cheat and the mere fact they may have been able to get through without being found out doesn't mean that down the track, when we find out that cheating has occurred, that that person should lose those medals, there is no doubt about that."

But any Australian attempt to seek retrospective measures on the issue is likely to hit a dead end with the IOC's own charter stating no decision made at an Olympic Games can be challenged after a period of three years from the day of the closing ceremony.

Australia's 2004 Athens Olympics triple gold medallist Petria Thomas said if found guilty, Jones should not keep the three gold and two bronze medals she won in Sydney.

"If they're proven to be guilty of taking performance-enhancing drugs there's no doubt in my mind that they don't deserve to be holding a gold medal," butterfly swimmer Thomas said.

"I think athletes who take drugs are a bit of a disgrace to sport to be honest and I don't think they should be holding any sort of medal or any accolades whatsoever.

"I think when there is strong enough proof that someone has done the wrong thing then action should be taken."

Victor Conte, the head of a California lab that allegedly provided steroids and other banned drugs to elite athletes, said he gave performance-enhancing drugs to Jones and fellow sprinters Tim Montgomery and Kelli White.

Jones said through her attorney that she would sue accused steroid peddler Conte over his allegations and she had instructed her lawyers to "vigorously explore a defamation lawsuit against Victor Conte."

Jones has repeatedly denied ever using banned drugs.