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Rediff.com  » Sports » Jamaica risk expulsion from world events after doping failings
This article was first published 11 years ago

Jamaica risk expulsion from world events after doping failings

August 22, 2013 15:31 IST

Image: Usain Bolt of Jamaica crosses the line first to win gold
Photographs: Julian Finney/Getty Images

The Jamaicans are a mighty force in sprints. And their power was on display during the 2013 World Championships in Moscow earlier this month.

The tiny Caribbean island finished third, behind the hosts Russia and the United States with six gold medals.

But Jamaica has reportedly been warned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that it risked expulsion from major competitions if it failed to address failings pointed out by a former senior employee.

Jamaica risk expulsion from world events after doping failings

Image: Gold medalists Carrie Russell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Schillonie Calvert and Nickiesha Wilson of Jamaica pose with the clock after setting a new championship record
Photographs: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

According to The Age, the former executive director of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) Renee Anne Shirley had accused Jamaican politicians and administrators of ignoring her warnings that the positive tests returned by Asafa Powell and four other athletes were a 'disaster waiting to happen'.

Jamaica risk expulsion from world events after doping failings

Image: Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates
Photographs: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Urging the Jamaican government to investigate Shirley's claims that JADCO's drugs-testing program was completely inadequate, WADA director-general David Howman warned that if the country refused to take its responsibilities seriously, it could have dire consequences for the country's elite athletes, including star sprinter Usain Bolt.

Jamaica risk expulsion from world events after doping failings

Image: Usain Bolt celebrates with Warren Weir
Photographs: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Howman also said that normally if they have issues falling into the category of either complaint or concern, they try to work with the particular signatory, in this case JADCO, adding that if nothing happens, then they can declare any of the signatories non-compliant, risking their participation in international events.

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