Dear Editor,
I share Bolt's disappointment about the "slap on the wrist" one-year ban awarded to Tyson Gay. But I have a further concern. Why is there secrecy in releasing the name of the anabolic steroid for which he tested positive? It took several weeks before it was announced that he had failed the drug test, and we are yet to hear the name of that steroid.
When Ben Johnson tested positive at the 1998 Seoul Olympics, there was no secrecy in naming stanozolol. The stimulant oxilofrine consumed by Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson is also public knowledge, though less emphasis has been placed on the fact that WADA permits use of the stimulant out of competition.
I also cannot understand JADCO's continued draconian treatment of our athletes. JADCO continues to impose severe sanctions on our athletes and later many of whom are either cleared or given reduced bans by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, namely Veronica Campbell Brown, Domonique Blake, Powell, and Simpson. If JADCO continues on the same path, it will join the notorious record that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has versus its players' union, where the WICB has lost a significant majority of cases sent to arbitration. While a clean sport must be promoted and discipline must be administered, caution should be taken to be reasonable and fair, examining context and not being unfair to our own.
Sherrene Bogle
Kingston 6
sbogle@utech.edu.jm
Name the substance used by Gay
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I share Bolt's disappointment about the "slap on the wrist" one-year ban awarded to Tyson Gay. But I have a further concern. Why is there secrecy in releasing the name of the anabolic steroid for which he tested positive? It took several weeks before it was announced that he had failed the drug test, and we are yet to hear the name of that steroid.
When Ben Johnson tested positive at the 1998 Seoul Olympics, there was no secrecy in naming stanozolol. The stimulant oxilofrine consumed by Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson is also public knowledge, though less emphasis has been placed on the fact that WADA permits use of the stimulant out of competition.
I also cannot understand JADCO's continued draconian treatment of our athletes. JADCO continues to impose severe sanctions on our athletes and later many of whom are either cleared or given reduced bans by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, namely Veronica Campbell Brown, Domonique Blake, Powell, and Simpson. If JADCO continues on the same path, it will join the notorious record that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has versus its players' union, where the WICB has lost a significant majority of cases sent to arbitration. While a clean sport must be promoted and discipline must be administered, caution should be taken to be reasonable and fair, examining context and not being unfair to our own.
Sherrene Bogle
Kingston 6
sbogle@utech.edu.jm
Name the substance used by Gay
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