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This is exactly the same thing the US congress did to BP on the disperant issue .. either the substance is banned or it is not...
Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer
Olympic and World 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser is now awaiting a ruling from the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) to know whether she will be able to compete for the rest of season after testing positive for a prohibited drug at an IAAF Diamond League meet in Shanghai, China, in May.
Fraser, who pulled out of a track meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday, tested positive for the drug, which is not deemed a performance-booster by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but is on its list of non-performance-enhancing substances, which each athlete must declare if he or she is taking prior to competing in a meet.
Bruce James, president of Fraser's MVP Track & Field Club in Jamaica, said the flagged drug is a variant of toothache medication, which was adminis-tered by meet organisers in Shanghai after she complained of pain. She had undergone a dental procedure earlier in the month.
The Associated Press has identified the drug as oxycodone, a painkiller.
Fraser breached International Association of Athletics Federations rules by not declaring the medication on her drug-testing form.
"We now have to go through a procedure where she will now have a hearing here in Jamaica that is to be organised by the JAAA, and once that hearing is held, they will make a recommendation as to whether she is exonerated, or what form of sanction is to be," added James, who said he was notified by the IAAF through the JAAA in June.
Jaaa boss tight-lipped
When contacted by The Gleaner yesterday, JAAA President Howard Aris said he was not prepared to comment in detail.
"Once there is an ongoing case, we cannot comment on it and, in any event, the person who normally speaks on these things on behalf of the JAAA, Dr Warren Blake, is not here. He is off the island," said Aris.
"I know some things and I don't know other things. Things are moving very fast ... but we are reviewing the situation and will be making an official statement shortly," he added.
Meanwhile, James, who, along with Fraser's coach Stephen Francis forms the backbone of MVP, said he was optimistic that Fraser would be cleared.
"Our understanding was that since it was not a performance-enhancing substance, she should continue competing ... . As a result, we do not expect a ban to result from this," said James.
It is the first time that Fraser or an MVP clubmate has been implicated in a drug-testing scandal since the club's rise to prominence at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China, and last year's World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany.
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Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer
Olympic and World 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser is now awaiting a ruling from the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) to know whether she will be able to compete for the rest of season after testing positive for a prohibited drug at an IAAF Diamond League meet in Shanghai, China, in May.
Fraser, who pulled out of a track meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday, tested positive for the drug, which is not deemed a performance-booster by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but is on its list of non-performance-enhancing substances, which each athlete must declare if he or she is taking prior to competing in a meet.
Bruce James, president of Fraser's MVP Track & Field Club in Jamaica, said the flagged drug is a variant of toothache medication, which was adminis-tered by meet organisers in Shanghai after she complained of pain. She had undergone a dental procedure earlier in the month.
The Associated Press has identified the drug as oxycodone, a painkiller.
Fraser breached International Association of Athletics Federations rules by not declaring the medication on her drug-testing form.
"We now have to go through a procedure where she will now have a hearing here in Jamaica that is to be organised by the JAAA, and once that hearing is held, they will make a recommendation as to whether she is exonerated, or what form of sanction is to be," added James, who said he was notified by the IAAF through the JAAA in June.
Jaaa boss tight-lipped
When contacted by The Gleaner yesterday, JAAA President Howard Aris said he was not prepared to comment in detail.
"Once there is an ongoing case, we cannot comment on it and, in any event, the person who normally speaks on these things on behalf of the JAAA, Dr Warren Blake, is not here. He is off the island," said Aris.
"I know some things and I don't know other things. Things are moving very fast ... but we are reviewing the situation and will be making an official statement shortly," he added.
Meanwhile, James, who, along with Fraser's coach Stephen Francis forms the backbone of MVP, said he was optimistic that Fraser would be cleared.
"Our understanding was that since it was not a performance-enhancing substance, she should continue competing ... . As a result, we do not expect a ban to result from this," said James.
It is the first time that Fraser or an MVP clubmate has been implicated in a drug-testing scandal since the club's rise to prominence at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China, and last year's World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany.
[email protected]