Forbes hearing set for Tuesday

Former national senior team netball captain Simone Forbes is due to face a hearing with the Jamaica Anti-Doping Committee (JADCO) on Tuesday.

Forbes, a very skilful and high-percentage shooter who mostly plays the goal attack role, returned an adverse analytical finding during an out-of-competition drug test last month.

The substance is reported to be clomiphene, a drug listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency 2011 list of banned substances under Section Four - 'Hormone Antagonists and Modulators'.

Clomiphene, also known by its chemical name 'clomid', is a common selective receptor modulator that is used quite frequently by steroid users.

While commonly used for this purpose, the substance also has valuable medical purposes as well.

It is commonly prescribed as a means to correct fertility issues and is readily available.

Decision on penalties

At Tuesday's meeting with JADCO, it is anticipated that a decision will be made regarding the finding and whether there will be any penalties.

If there are penalties, it could affect her participation in the series against England, as well as the World Netball Championships, that will take place this summer in Singapore.

The technical director of the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), Jill McIntosh, who confirmed the date of the JADCO hearing with Forbes, says the possibility of the player being absent from the three-Test Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series that will also start on Tuesday against England, will not be an "issue".

McIntosh said: "It's not an issue, we have a very, very good group of players, one person does not a team make."

McIntosh, who coached her native Australia to the title at the 2007 WNC in Kingston, was on hand to meet the England team on their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday, along with JNA officials Marva Bernard, the president and her deputy, Dorothy Hobson.

Support for Forbes

All noted their support for Forbes and wished her well.

The Jamaicans are ranked fourth in the world, one place behind the English, and McIntosh expects a close series.

"I expect the three matches to be very close, it's going to be a very tight series (with) England ranked number three, marginally ahead of the Sunshine Girls. As in the past, it's usually only a few goals that separates them either way," assessed McIntosh.

Asked to single out a player who could make a big difference, McIntosh reasoned that team effort generally has greater influence on these close matchups.

"I wouldn't like to single anyone out because I think it takes a team to win these tough matches, and certainly all players have been training well," she stated. "Hopefully, the combined team effort will rise above what the English have to throw at them."

- Audley Boyd