Ok, so from Tuesday, the news media in Jamaica has been buzzing...there is a Jamaican athlete who's "A" (first) urine sample tested positive for a horse tonic used to build muscle and increase speed.
The results of his "B" (second) sample are not yet known.
(The samples were provided at the Jamaican Olympic trials held between June 27-29, 2008.)
There we rumours swirling around, that a Jamaican athlete was dropped from the list of those slated participate in the Beijing Olympics, due to the doping incident above.
Of course, journalists did their digging and found that Julian Dunkley's name was missing from the athlete list on the Jamaica Olympic Association's website.
The Jamaican Olympic Association confirmed on Tuesday, that the athlete is Julian Dunkley.
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The thing is that when a Jamaica Observer reporter got in touch with Dunkley, he claimed that neither the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) nor the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA - the body responsible for overseeing Jamaican amateur atheltics) communicated to him that he had been dropped from the team.
However, the JOA claimed that they had sent him a fax on Tuesday, July 29,2008.
What sports journalists are saying is that the JOA should have called him...well, maybe they did, but felt a fax would provide proof that the message was sent.
But this fellow is so froward that he claimed on Tuesday, that he's got an offical JAAA ticket and he's on his way to China... he claims that if the JOA/JAAA had found something wrong, they should have told him.
I feel that this fellow has a nerve... and that him going to Beijing to be a part of the Jamaican athletic camp (contingent of athletes) that's there, will only cause discord and a lot of bad press.
(Members of the world press are already stirring up suspicions that a tiny country like Jamaica, could never be producing the two fastest men in the world, unless our athletes are doping...well this is how the world press is, if the "developed" world is doing well...it's deserved...if a tiny, developing island, such as Jamaica, is doing well...it's a problem. )
What I feel, the JOA/JAAA needed to do, was, as soon as they got confirmation that Julian Dunkley was on his way to China, was to cancel his ticket...and provide him with a one-way ticket back to the USA (where he's been living for sometime).
Failing this, they should have alerted the Chinese authorities re the doping allegations, so this fellow is not even allowed into the country.
I strongly feel that what Julian Dunkley needs to do, is return to the USA (the only decent thing for him to do) and await further instructions, re his future in track and field.
There is no need for him to upset the Jamaican camp or cause undue attention from the world press, by being present.
He should have just stayed put.
But the JAAA has been silent on the issue...so right now, we don't even know where Julian Dunkley is.
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However, I guess we'll know by tomorrow, when the Jamaican camp starts training in China.
As soon as we know, we' ll tell you!
Sources Include:
1) Nationwide Radio, July 29, 2008 and July 31,2008
2) Article, "Jamaican athlete tests positive: official", Canadian Broadcasting Commision Sports, July 29, 2008
