JAAA mum on dope case

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

The Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) remains tight-lipped about the possible return of an adverse analytical finding of the 'A' sample of a member of the country's team to the recent IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar.

News surfaced yesterday about the possible doping breach, but local authorities were not in a position to say anything official on the matter because of IAAF regulations.

However, information gleaned by investigations strongly suggest that the athlete in question is a female and formed part of the 4x400m quartet that won bronze at the meet.

The quartet, in running order, comprised Bobby-Gaye Wilkins, Clora Williams, Davita Prendergast and Novlene Williams-Mills.

The United States won the event, while Russia placed second.

It is further understood that the substance found in the athlete's system was testosterone based.

Rules book

According to the IAAF's 2010-2011 Competition Rules book, 'Adverse Analytical Finding' speaks to the "presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers (including elevated quantities of endogenous substances) or evidence of the use of a prohibited method".

One JAAA official refused to confirm or deny the development, but noted that the process would have to be honoured, effectively meaning that the results of the 'B' sample would have to be known and the athlete would have to provide a written explanation before anything could be said officially.

The IAAF Competitions Rules book further states: "The identity of athletes or other persons who are alleged to have committed anti-doping rule violations may be publicly disclosed only after notice has been provided to the athlete or other person in accordance with Rule 37.4 or 37.10 and, in normal circumstances, no earlier than the imposition of a Provisional Suspension in accordance with Rule 38.2 or Rule 38.3."