KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Pre-trial dates have been set for five Jamaican athletes, who were said to have returned adverse analytical findings, at the National Senior and Junior Championships in June.
Former 100-metre World Record holder and Olympian, Asafa Powell and 2004 Olympic relay gold medalist, Sherone Simpson are among the five athletes.
The others are national record holder in the men’s discus, Traves Smikle; discus thrower, Allison Randall; and triple jumper, Demar Robinson.
The athletes, with the exception of Randall, who currently resides overseas, faced members of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCo) Disciplinary Panel, during a mentioning of the disciplinary hearing held on Friday in Kingston, when the pre-trial dates were set.
The date for Smikle, Randall, and Robinson, who are all represented by a team of attorneys led by Dr Lloyd Barnett, William Panton and Sabrina Cross, has been set for Friday, September 20.
Smikle will face a four-member pre-trial panel comprising former director of public prosecutions (DPP) and chairman of the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, Kent Pantry; deputy DPP and second vice chairman, Jeremy Taylor; physician, Ivor Crandon; and Olympian, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn.
Additionally, a four-member panel consisting of Pantry; Taylor; physician, Dr Archie McDonald; and FIFA referee, Peter Prendergast will head the pre-trial hearing for Robinson.
Randall will appear before a four-member panel, which includes Pantry, Taylor, McDonald and Cuthbert-Flynn.
As regards Powell and Simpson, who are being represented by attorneys Kwame Gordon and Danielle Chai, a pre-trial hearing has been set for Friday, September 27.
A three-member panel led by attorney-at-law and vice chairman of the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, Lennox Gayle; physician, Dr Jephthah Ford and Prendergast will preside over both Simpson and Powell’s pre-trial hearings.
Both Powell and Simpson tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrine at the national trials in June. Powell has blamed his positive test on a range of new nutritional supplements prescribed to him by a physiotherapist.
Pantry, who led the proceedings, informed that the matters concerning all five athletes will not be heard during the pre-trial hearings.
“The pre-trial is really where certain orders will be made for documentation and other things and then a (disciplinary) hearing date will be agreed on (for each athlete) on that day,” he stated.
Representing JADCO at Friday morning’s mention were chairman of the body, Dr Herbert Elliot, and attorney-at-law, Lackston Robinson.
Meanwhile, JADCO has said that back-up tests for all five athletes have confirmed the prohibited substances, which were found in the A-sample analyses in June.
The local anti-doping body said the athletes’ B-samples were tested at a Montreal-based lab accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). JADCO further informed that all five athletes have been notified and have acknowledged receipt of their notification letters of an adverse analytical finding for a ‘B’ sample.
The Commission says the findings have been referred to the independent Jamaica Anti-doping Disciplinary Panel for their consideration and the establishment of the hearing panels.
The Commission also said it continues its rigorous anti-doping programme and has conducted 16 out-of-competition tests in July 2013.
It added that from January to July 2013, JADCO planned to conduct 260 tests — 153 in competition and 107 out-of-competition, and has actually conducted 262 tests — 164 in-competition and 98 out-of-competition.
Since starting testing in May 2009, the Commission has conducted 876 tests — 504 in competition and 272 out-of-competition.