Jarrett guilty

By Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter

JAAA president Patrick Anderson reads the local panel's result to the media during the association's executive meeting yesterday at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

JAMAICAN SPRINTER Patrick Jarrett was last night found guilty of a doping offence and faces a two-year ban from the sport.

The announcement was made by Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) president, Patrick Anderson during that body's executive meeting at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

"I'd just like to say that after quite a long deliberation that the members of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association, along with myself, accept the decision of the (JAAA) panel," Anderson said.

"We are satisfied that the samples taken were that of the named athlete and therefore find him guilty of a doping offence under Sections 55.2 and 60.1 of the IAAF's (International Amateur Athletic Federation rules," he said.

Jarrett, 23, tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol at the National Championships held here in June and now faces a two-year ban from the sport. He is currently on suspension.

The five-member Jamaica panel headed by Dr Alfred Sangster and which also included Dr Aggrey Irons, Professor Errol Morrison and attorneys Lincoln Eatmon and Anthony Pearson reached a verdict after a hearing that covered four sessions.

"It took a long time getting there," Anderson said, "but we have finally made a decision. We are unanimously of the view that the panel did the best it could. It exhausted all the facts and carefully went through the evidence and the decision reached is that he's guilty," Anderson said.

A few minutes before making the announcement to members of the local media, Anderson made an overseas telephone call to Jarrett to advise him of the decision.

Jarrett's reaction, according to Anderson, was that of dissatisfaction and that he plans to make an appeal to the world governing body, the IAAF.

"He said he was not satisfied with our decision. He wants it to go further to the IAAF. But the important thing is that we notified him and we'll be sending him and his lawyer an e-mail tonight (last night) as a formality. We're also going to hand him a hard copy," Anderson added.

The JAAA meanwhile, will send the result of their findings to the IAAF some time today. That body is then likely to enforce the ban.

Back to Sport