By Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterUSAIN BOLT'S sizzling record 200-metre run at July's Junior Pan American Athletics Championships in Barbados could stand when the IAAF meets next month.
President of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA), Pat Anderson, told The Gleaner yesterday that he had heard the Jamaican sensation's run could be ratified.
"Amadeo Francis (IAAF vice-president) explained yesterday (Wednesday) that it is likely to be ratified," Anderson said.
The Barbados National Stadium track did not secure IAAF certification and the body's council has refused to ratify Bolt's world junior record-equalling time.
On July 20, Bolt, the national 200m champion topped American David Neville (20.63) and sped to the Pan Am Juniors 200 gold in 20.13 seconds, equalling American Roy Martin's 18-year-old world best mark.
The JAAA president explained the reason why Francis believes Bolt's time could be ratified when the council meets.
"Although the track wasn't certified, they found out he (Bolt) ran more than 200m, about 200.3," Anderson said.
"The track was not certified and it ended up being a non-permit meet," Puerto Rican Francis told CMC Sport in early October.
"For one reason or another, neither the Barbados Amateur Athletic Association (BAAA) nor the National Sports Council (NSC) in Barbados ensured that certification was done," Francis added.
When The Gleaner contacted Bolt's manager, Norman Peart, he said they were now awaiting ratification.
"At one point he heard he wasn't getting it, then now he hears another thing so he is just awaiting ratification," Peart said.
"When he got the news that his time was not going to be ratified he was looking to break the record next year (season)," he said.
Bolt, 17, has two years of eligibility left at the junior level.
