Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

News in Progress: Jamaican Athletes' B Urine Samples are Positive

Urine test
Originally uploaded by D2Fang

Please read our previous post, here, for a background to this this post.

Well friends, the five (5) Jamaican athletes whose 'A' urine samples tested positive, have now heard that their 'B' samples have also tested positive for methylxanthine.

They should be appearing before the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission over the weekend. 

According to Television Jamaica, although the athletes may just get a public warning, if found guilty, they may be banned from the World Championships.

Will keep you updated re the above events.

(I would like to thank D2Fang for the use of his Flickr inset photo above, of two test tubes of urine samples waiting to be tested).

Gillian

Source

Television Jamaica News at 10:00 p.m.

Oral Tracey, Jamaican Sports Commentator, Challenges Asafa and His Fans!

Comedic Jamaican Sports Commentator, Oral Tracey, laid down the following challenge to Asafa Powell and his fans, on the Programme, Sports Commentary, on Television Jamaica, tonight:

1) Should Asafa Powell get the bronze medal at this year's World Championships, he, Oral Tracey, will tape up his mouth for the entire duration  of Sports Commentary on that night.

2) Should Asafa win the gold medal at this year's World Championship, ahead of a healthy field of competitors, he, Oral Tracey, will stand at the gate of RJR studios on Lynhurst Road, between 5-6 p.m. on August 19 and allow people to pelt him with eggs.

He'll wear his special, pin-stripped suit, so that you won't miss him!

(RJR are the owners of Television Jamaica).

Well, I can tell you, when I heard this, I ran into the living room and told my parents that I'll be buying a dozen eggs, for I'll be pelting Oral Tracey on August 16!

My dad said (cheekily) that he'd personally get a gold car for the occasion (oh really now :)) and he'd drive us down to RJR together, whilst my mom took pictures for Facebook. :)

(My mom is a great Asafa Powell fan, whilst my dad feels that Asafa's running days are over :)).

I am in between decisions, as I feel that, after watching Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell race over the past three (3) weeks, Usain Bolt can easily beat both men.

Then on the other hand, in Asafa's previous race at the Aveva Grand Prix, in London, last weekend, Asafa came in 6th. Today he came in 3rd at the DN Gala in Stockholm, Sweden. Tyson Gay won the race in 9.79 secs.

(...In Asafa's usual style..he slowed down at the finish line, when he realized he wasn't winning. However, he seemed to have something in reserve)...

I believe that Asafa will pleasantly surprise us in Berlin. :) 

I feel that Asafa Powell, like the other Stephen Francis proteges, are just peaking.

(Stephen Francis-coached, Sherika Williams won the 400 metres, today, at the DN Gala, whilst Shelly-Ann Fraser beat former Olympic Champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown, in the 100m, on Tuesday, at the IAAF Herculis 2009 Grand Prix, in Monaco).

So Oral Tracey may be in for an eggy surprise on August 16!

What do you think? :)

(You can view the 12th IAAF World Championships Schedule for 2009, here).

(I would like to thank user71323's for the use of his Youtube video, above, of the race involving Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay in Rome, on July 10,2009).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Sports Commentary - Television Jamaica, July 31,2009

2) Television Jamaica Sports, July 31,2009

3) Article, "Tyson Gay takes wind-aided 100 in 9.79 at DN Gala; Powell finished third", by Steffan Nasstrom - AP Sports Writer, via ChicagoTribune.com, July 31,2009

4) Article, "Athletics: Shelly-Ann Fraser Wins in Monaco", CMC via Jamaica Observer, July 28,2009

News in Progress: Athletes' B Samples Not Yet Tested

Urine test
Originally uploaded by D2Fang

Please read our previous post, here, for a background to this post.

CVM Television reported tonight, that the five (5) Jamaican athletes whose 'A' urine samples had traces of a 'banned' substance, have not yet had their 'B' samples tested.

Reason: according to WADA rules, each athlete and/or his representative needs to be in Montreal, to observe the testing process.

Not all athletes were able to send a representative to Montreal, to fulfill this requirement.

(All five athletes are supposed to be in Jamaica for their hearing before  the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission).

This also affects the timing of their hearing before the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission, as this cannot take place, until the "B" samples' results have been received.

GWAP Blog will keep you updated re the progress of the above events.

(I would like to thank D2Fang for the use of his Flickr inset photo above, of two test tubes of urine samples waiting to be tested).

Gillian

Source

CVM Television's News programme, "News Watch" at 8:00 p.m., July 28,2009

'Doping' Jamaican Athletes May Just Get a Warning

World Anti-Doping Agency
Originally uploaded by Andy Miah

Well friends, an Italian newspaper - Gazzetta dello Sport,  broke the story over the weekend (which has been confirmed by Jamaican officials), of the names of the five (5) athletes who have been found with traces of a banned substance in their urine.

They are Sheri-Ann Brooks (who runs the 100m), Lansford Spence and Allodin Fothergill (who both run the 400m), Yohan Blake (who runs the 100m and is the training partner for Usain Bolt) and Marvin Anderson who runs the 200m.

All five (5) have been ordered back to Jamaica (most were competing on the European circuit) and will appear at a hearing, today, before the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission - JADCO.

It has been said that the banned substance they took is methylxanthine, a stimulant found in many energy drinks containing a lot of caffeine; cough and anti-flu medicines- however, this has not been confirmed by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission, the agency that oversees the testing of athletes, to ensure that they are clean to compete.

Methylxanthine is said to make users very drowsy and agitated - so doctors are saying that athletes would never take this to enhance performance.

Well, whatever the substance is, doctors close to JADCO are revealing that the substance taken is not prohibited under the 2009 Monitoring Program and is currently a Non-Specified Stimulant.

This means that athletes found guilty of taking it, will only get a public warning and be disqualified from the event at which traces of the substance were found - the Jamaica National Trials.

Yesterday, all five (5) athletes' B urine samples were tested, at their request.

(If the B samples return positive for the banned substance, then it is up to JADCO to make a decision re the future of these athletes, based on the substance found. However, if the B sample results are different from the A sample results, then the tests will be rendered, null and void, under WADA rules.

WADA is the World Anti-Doping Agency).

At the Jamaica National Trials, 43 tests were conducted...the athletes were asked to urinate and separate their urine into two different containers called A and B samples...These samples were then sent to a WADA-accredited testing centre in Montreal, Canada).

The B sample test-results have not yet been publicized.

Speculation is rife in Jamaica that an American athlete, who was present at the trials, introduced a health supplement to the five (5) athletes and confirmed that it was not on the WADA list of banned substances.

However, Dr. Paul Wright, renown Jamaican Sports Physician, is speculating that more than likely, the athletes took anti-flu medicines to clear their nasal passages and reduce flu symptoms during the National Trials, as at that time, the flu was going around and people were being very cautious about contracting the swine flu.

Well, we just don't know, but what we know is for sure, is:

1) That anything being said now, is just mere speculation.

We will just have to wait until we get word from JADCO re what the substance was, the circumstances under which the substance was taken, the athletes B sample results and the fate of these athletes.

2) The athletes have been pulled from the 46-member Jamaican delegation to the World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

(The final list of competing Jamaican athletes for Berlin, is to be submitted tomorrow - which would be insufficient time for hearing procedures to be completed).

======

As usual, GWAP Blog will keep you updated re the progress of the above events.

(I would like to thank Andy Miah  for the use of his Flickr inset photo above, of proceedings at the World Anti-Doping Agency).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Article, "Italian newspaper names Jamaican dopers", by Joe Battaglia, Universal Sports, July 25,2009

2) Article, "Affirmative- JADCO, IAAF confirm J'can athletes tested positive", by Kayon Raynor, Jamaica Observer, July 25,2009

3) Various Jamaican Sports and Radio Programmes on IRIE FM, Power 106 FM, Nationwide Radio, KLAS Sports Radio FM 89, from July 24,2009 - July 29,2009.

News in Progress: Five Jamaican Athletes Test Positive for Banned Substance

Lab Fridge - Urine Samples
Originally uploaded by tiamat0281

The Jamaica Amateurs Athletics Association (JAAAs) revealed today, that five (5) Jamaican athletes have tested positive for a banned substance.

This follows testing on these athletes' A and B urine samples from the Jamaica National Trials held in June of this year.

(The names of the athletes will not be revealed until all of them have been officially notified by the JAAAs).

The JAAAs (pronounced J three As) revealed that all 5 athletes' A samples'  have tested positive.

Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog understands that the athletes will only be punished if their B samples also tested positive.

Presently, members of the JAAAs, the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), the Jamaican Prime Minister - Bruce Golding and Sports Minister - Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, are locked in a high-level meeting to discuss this issue.

As a result, one young athlete has been allegedly pulled from the Aviva London Grand Prix event, today.

Surely as a nation, we are disappointed...as these athletes, in pursuit of quick glory, have put a stain on Jamaican athletics.

Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog will keep you updated re this matter, as soon as more information becomes available.

(I would like to thank  tiamat0281 for the use of her Flickr inset photo of a Lab fridge with urine samples).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Nationwide Radio's News at 12:00 p.m., July 24,2009

2) KLAS Sports Radio 89 FM, July 24,2009