Jamaican runners cleared of doping

The five Jamaican runners provisionally cleared of doping are now eligible to run at the world championships in Berlin, Germany.



The athletes cleared were Yohan Blake, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Allodin Fothergill, Lansford Spence and Marvin Anderson.



However, Anderson has pulled out of the team because of an injury.



The four remaining athletes have been selected to represent Jamaica in the relays.



The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) says it has no option but to allow the athletes to run as the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) will not rule on their fate until after the championships close on Sunday.



IAAF secretary general Pierre Weiss says the governing body did not have the power to suspend the athletes without a ruling from JADCO. But he also added that it is in the Jamaicans interest not to have the athletes run.



Weiss says if the athletes do run and the panel later declares them guilty of doping, the IAAF would have to disqualify the affected Jamaican relay team and strip them of any medal they might win.



The Jamaica Anti-Doping disciplinary committee cleared the athletes earlier this month.



Kent Gammon, chairman of disciplinary committee says his members cleared the athletes after they found out that the substance was not on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency.



Gammon says the athletes returned Adverse Analytical Findings for the substance Methyl Hexanamine.



However, the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission has appealed the ruling of the disciplinary committee.