Racers Track Club dismisses MVP's claims

The Racers Track Club has rubbished claims made by MVP Track Club president, Bruce James, who suggested in a release earlier this week that athletes were leaving his club and moving to Racers because they were being enticed by monetary gain.



Several developing athletes such as national 400m hurdles junior record holder Ristananna Tracey have already made the switch from the University of Technology-based MVP, and are now under the guidance of the coaching staff at the University of the West Indies-based Racers set-up.



Kimmari Roach, Peter Matthews and Darion Bent have also crossed the road to the neighbouring Racers Track Club.



“Unlike another track club in Jamaica, MVP does not pay our developmental athletes cash. Some of our former athletes have advised us that the other club pays them cash monthly in addition to providing them with accommodation in apartments off campus among other enticements,” James had said in statement to the media.



However, Racers Track Club, through a release of their own, which had President and head coach Glen Mills as the contact person, quelled any suggestion around its recruitment practices, stating clearly that while they in fact do not attract athletes with money, they do their best to offer full support to its membership; monetary and otherwise.



“A clear distinction must be made between athlete recruitment and athlete support. Racers Track Club maintains a restrained policy of recruitment and an active policy of support,” the release stated.



“Do we use the offer of money to attract athletes to join our club? The answer is categorically No. The names of several athletes were cited in the articles in support of the allegations made. In fact, all of the athletes mentioned approached Racers on their own initiative seeking membership… None of these athletes expressed a major concern with money. They all expressed a desire to get an opportunity to train in a supportive, communicative and participatory environment.



“Do we seek to support our athletes financially? The answer is unequivocally Yes. We do try to assist our athlete members to keep body and soul together in the hard times before they become celebrities and before they excite the attention of potential sponsors,” the release continued.



The Gleaner and The Star will have more in later reports.



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