JOA president Mike Fennell - file
A still unnamed athlete whose 'A' sample tested positive for a banned substance at the June 27-29 National Track and Field Championships has been booted from Jamaica's delegation for the August 8-24 Beijing Olympics.
In a release yesterday, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) said the action was in accordance with its own anti-doping rules and regulations and also the rules of the International Olympic Association (IOC) governing participation in the Beijing Olympic Games. The Beijing Olympic Organising Committee, the release added, has been advised of the JOA's move.
The athlete who was one of 52 track and field competitors named for the Games by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) has also been advised of the doping violation and now has five days to decide whether he will exercise his right for the testing of the 'B' sample or whether the laboratory analysis of the 'A' sample has been accepted.
The sample was taken from the athlete on June 28. The JOA had received verbal notification of the positive test from the International Association of Athletics Fede-rations (IAAF) last Friday and yesterday a fax was sent to confirm the doping violation.
Earlier JOA president Mike Fennell said his association had to be careful certain procedures were not breached.
"In all such cases, we have to ensure that we do not breach the laid down protocol for such matters which involves a series of communication, including with the athlete and the hearings that have to be held before we can disclose detailed information ... . If we breach these procedures, we will be exposing everybody to embarrassment," Fennell said.
Banned substances
In a bid to catch drugs cheats in the days leading up to and during the Games, the IOC has increased the number of tests for banned substances. There will be 4,500 urine and blood tests. In the 28 days, July 27-August 24, dubbed the 'Olympic Period', the JOA must have full details of the whereabouts of all the competitors who will wear Jamaica's colours during the Games.
The following is a full list of athletes named after the National Championships to represent the island at the Beijing Games.
FEMALES: Kerron Stewart, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherri-Ann Brooks, Aleen Bailey, Simone Facey, Nickiesha Anderson, Rosemarie Whyte, Novlene Williams-Mills, Shericka Williams, Shareefa Lloyd, Bobby-Gaye Wilkins, Anastasia Le-Roy, Kenia Sinclair, Mardrea Hyman, Korine Hinds, Chelsea Hammond, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Delloreen Ennis-London, Vonette Dixon, Andrea Bliss, Melaine Walker, Nickiesha Wilson, Shevon Stoddart, Trecia Smith and Olivia McKoy.
MALES: Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Michael Frater, Marvin Anderson, Dwight Thomas, Julien Dunkley, Andre Wellington, Christopher Williams, Nesta Carter, Michael Blackwood, Ricardo Chambers, Sanjay Ayre, Allodin Fothergill, Marvin Essor, Lansford Spence, Maurice Wignall, Richard Phillips, Danny McFarlane, Markino Buckley, Adrian Findlay, Isa Phillips, Herbert McGregor, Dorian Scott, Aldwyne Sappleton and Maurice Smith.
Confetti flies in the air during the opening ceremony for the Athletes' Village in Beijing on Sunday. The opening came on a hot, muggy morning, made more uncomfortable by the thick haze of pollution hanging over the village, which is to house about 16,000 Olympic athletes. - ap
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