updated 10:53 p.m. ET Feb. 11, 2006

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Janet Jones is going to join husband Wayne Gretzky at the Olympics.

A Phoenix Coyotes spokesman said the Gretzkys and 15-year-old son Ty are going to Turin together.

Gretzky arrives in this factory city Sunday, flying in with a Canadian team favored to win Olympic gold. Gretzky, Team Canada's executive director, will have a lot to think about on the flight overseas, most of it nothing to do with what happens on the ice.

The Great One comes immersed in a betting scandal so shocking -- and so unexpected -- that it threatens to overshadow anything Team Canada does with the puck.

The first questions he'll hear will be about the betting scandal allegedly involving his wife and assistant coach Rick Tocchet, with wagers big enough to move the lines in Vegas. None of the best, according to reports, were on hockey.

Mostly, though, they'll want to know how Gretzky wasn't aware of anything.

A source familiar with the ongoing investigation into a U.S. gambling ring says Jones allegedly bet at least $100,000 on football games over the course of the probe.

Gretzky has denied making any bets.

Investigators have said they have no plans to charge any of the wagerers involved in the betting operation.

Gretzky reiterated Thursday that he had nothing to do with the gambling ring bust that has state authorities investigating his wife, Tocchet and NHL players.

The Coyotes head coach also shed no light on the wiretap recordings that have him talking to Tocchet, the ring's alleged financier, about how Janet Jones could avoid being implicated.

A person with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press that the wiretaps were made within the past month. Yet earlier this week Gretzky said he had no prior knowledge of the gambling accusations.

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During a brief news conference following the Coyotes' 5-1 loss Thursday night to Dallas in Glendale, Gretzky did not take questions or talk about the wire taps. He only said he had never bet.

"I've felt like the last three days I've defended myself over something that absolutely, unequivocally, I was not involved with," he said.

Authorities revealed the existence of the wiretaps just two days after Gretzky said he was first informed about the investigation into Tocchet.

Jones allegedly bet at least $100,000 on football games over the course of the investigation by state authorities, a person with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press.

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According to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, there is no evidence that Gretzky placed any bets. Jones has not been charged.

Gretzky sounded weary on Thursday talking to reporters after the game for about two minutes.

"I hope you appreciate that these three days have been horrible. I'm just too tired mentally and physically to talk any more about it," he said. "There's nothing more for me to talk about. And if you have questions for people involved, contact them."

Meanwhile, Phoenix general manager Michael Barnett also released a statement during Thursday's game, addressing media reports that he bet on the Super Bowl through Tocchet and later met with investigators in New Jersey about the case.

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"They informed me that my conduct has in no way violated either federal or state laws," he said.

Authorities say from Dec. 29 through Feb. 5 -- the day of the Super Bowl -- bettors placed a total of $1.7 million in wagers with the ring run by a New Jersey state trooper, Tocchet and a South Jersey man. All face charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy and are scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court in Mount Holly on Feb. 21, the state Attorney General's office said Thursday.

Elliot Mintz, a spokesman for Jones, said in a statement that she may be called as a witness before a grand jury in New Jersey.

"Janet is merely one of a number of witnesses, and there is no allegation whatsoever that Janet has violated any law," he said.

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