Dalton Myers | Adverse analytical findings require discretion

It’s news no one wants to hear. It triggers so many emotions and calls into question the actions of both the athlete and support personnel. Earlier this week when we received news that our young rising star, Briana Williams, had returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF), you could imagine the raw emotions and sadness in a track and field crazy country like Jamaica.

I will spend less time on the case itself, as it is now left up to the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) and the athlete’s legal team to battle it out during a hearing before the Independent Anti-Doping Panel. I am sure the IAAF Athletics Integrity Unit and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will be watching closely to see to what extent the World Anti-Doping Code is applied. Like many Jamaicans, I am hoping for the best, but I also recognise that this may not be as clear-cut as some of us think. I say that because a lot of us have already come to a conclusion on the matter even though we’ve only heard the athlete’s ‘version’. We have to be patient and also recognise that there is a process that must be followed.

Falling under the category of athlete support personnel myself, and as someone who has previously been closely associated with a previous AAF case, I can say that the days after an athlete gets that call, that he or she returned an AAF, are usually very difficult. They can feel like they’ve let down everyone around them, even if they know deep down that they did nothing wrong. Support personnel also have to be supportive emotionally, but they know they too, can be sanctioned for providing a banned substance or using banned method.

Attorney-at-law Emir Crowne has raised concerns over leaked information on this latest case. I can understand his concern and frustration. JADCO has also reportedly dismissed suggestions that they leaked the information. Though I have no clue about the source of the leak, what I do know is that in a previous case, the media was made aware of an adverse analytical finding even before the athlete. When the B sample was returned, I, along with the athlete and the other support personnel, heard about it via the local media before official correspondence was received. Information is being fed to local media from somewhere without athlete or support personnel knowledge. So I won’t bash the commission or the other custodians of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Act, but I think they all have a responsibility to help keep confidential information confidential.

Treats athletes like criminals

My biggest issue is really with how the local media treats the said information, whether it is ‘leaked’ or otherwise. I will be quick to agree that the media entities are not public relations firms and must investigate and provide the relevant information. However, that must be done within reason and with care, especially with minors. Sometimes the media seems to treat these athletes like criminals in the way the stories are written and reported, even before a hearing is had. Yes, the WADA code has a strict liability and may even suggest guilty until proven innocent, but often times I find we are very careless with our reporting on these matters. In my opinion, most often there is little regard for that athlete in an effort to ‘break the news’. As we have seen in some cases, the incident is not as serious as initially reported; and at times, the athlete receives minimum punishment. Don’t get me wrong, the world needs journalists to bring the news, but what we also want are facts, a balanced story, and something that does not seek to needlessly tarnish an athlete’s reputation. Most times, you get the sense that adverse analytical findings are investigated and reported with more vigour and tenacity than abuse of athletes or corruption in sports in Jamaica.

The next few days are going to be very interesting. I am a big supporter of our young athlete, but I also know that the process is there, and she will have to go through it like anyone else. I have had my issues with the application of the WADA code in a fair and unbiased way, but it is what we have. Finally, this is a lesson not just for her camp but for all of us.

Dalton Myers is a sports consultant and administrator. Email feedback to daltonsmyers@gmail.com or tweet @daltonsmyers