Anthony Foster, Freelance Reporter

Dr Herb Elliott - file

Dr Herb Elliott confirmed yesterday that more drug tests would be carried out at this year's Jamaica International Invitational, an International Associations of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Area Permit Meet, set for Saturday evening at the National Stadium.

Dr. Elliott, a member of the (IAAF's) medical and anti-doping commission, said everyone was being more careful because it was an Olympic year.

"This meet is going to attract a lot of top athletes ... and this is the beginning of the season," he said.

Asked how many doping tests they were likely to be conducted, Elliott replied: "I cannot tell you that at the moment.

"We will have enough kits to do enough doping tests. I am not going to suggest how many we are going to do, but we are going to do a considerable amount." Elliott said the usual number of tests at the meet was 'between ten and 15'.

Meanwhile, chairman of the organising committee for the meet, Howard Aris, and athletes' liaison Donald Quarrie, told the press briefing conference held at the Hilton Hotel that all was in place for Saturday's meet.

However, there was one significant withdrawal. Although it had been announced earlier that Melaine Walker would have been the lone MVP Track Club athlete to compete at the meet, Quarrie said yesterday that she would now be a non-starter.

The 1976 Olympic 200 metres champion Quarrie said his most difficult task was to finalise the women's 800m field.

"In the 800m, we have had to turn down people," he said. "Coaches even called to say they would pay their athletes' way to attend the meet," said Quarrie.

Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair and Marian Burnett of Guyana are the top athletes in this event.

A galaxy of stars including two Olympic champions, Veronica Campbell-Brown (200m) and American Joanna Hayes (100m hurdles) and two reigning World champions Americans Tyson Gay and Kerron Clement are down to run.

Americans Sanya Richards and Wallace Spearmon, and Jamaicans Usain Bolt, Novlene Williams-Mills and Danny McFarlane are also listed for the meet.