Andre Lowe, Special Projects Editor – Sport
An experienced Jamaican runner is among 31 athletes, spanning six sports and 12 countries, whose retested A sample from the 2008 Beijing Olympics has shown the presence of a banned substance.
The Jamaican cannot be named at this point given the pending outcome of the B sample test.
However, there is growing anxiety among local track and field authorities as the results of B sample tests are expected to be made public by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) within days.
While the nation’s biggest global superstars in the sport are not being implicated at this point, the development is still set to have serious consequences for Jamaica’s track and field programme, with at least one medal from the Beijing Olympics now at risk of being stripped.
Meanwhile, international sources have confirmed that testing of the B samples was conducted at a WADA-accredited lab in Lausanne, Switzerland in the past 48 hours.
It is also expected that the IOC, which today started a three-day Executive Board meeting at the Palace Hotel in Lausanne, will be confirming the cases and identifying the athletes, whose B samples corroborate the results found in the A samples.
It is further understood that the Jamaica Olympic Association was last week notified but officials from the organisation have so far offered no comment.
Meanwhile, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) president Dr Warren Blake says his organisation has not been notified.
At its meeting today, the IOC did, however, reveal that it has put together a special committee, which will oversee the cases with full authority.
Russian state media has already revealed that 14 of their athletes including 10 medallists from the Beijing Olympics were among those who tested positive in the re-analysis.
Spanish hurdler Josephine Onyia was also revealed to be among the 31 athletes
N.C.
Which means we will lose our relay medals from Beijing and London Olympics along with Worlds along with our relay record, it shall be a very disappointing day for Jamaica athletics when they release his name
It’s really sad and I expected better from him. With modern technology you are going to get caught! Shame on him.
U.B
Not him.
its Nesta Carter
Before jumping to any conclusion, keep in mind that there are malicious people who may pretend to be a friend and drug other ppl’s drink/food. Remember these substances may not have any immediate effect and may be found in small amounts in the body. Therefore, a person may need to get only a small amount in the food/drink over a period of time and it will show in the blood work. It may sound far fetched, but if you trust someone you don’t expect certain things and they could set you up. Or these athletes could be dumb enough to knowingly take banned substances and think they are too smart to be caught.
All modern day athletes take PEDs…all of them! You just have to know when to compete and not be tested when the drug is in your system. Why do you think these athletes are always pulling out of events a day or two before an event?
I really hope it’s not him. And leanie your right some wicked bad mine people out dey tryst je that will try to mess up a person. Jamacians and Africans nuturious Fi dat. Try Fi block another person from making it.