‘SHE’S NOT ELIGIBLE’
Francis slams selection of Briana Williams for IAAF World Championships
VETERAN TRACK and field coach Stephen Francis has called out the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) for its provisional selection of Briana Williams to Jamaica’s World Championships team, pointing to a direct breach of the updated IAAF Anti-Doping rules.
Williams tested positive for the banned substance hydrochlorothiazide at the National Senior Championships in June, where she finished third in the 100 metres in a time of 10.94 seconds.
Despite the ongoing disciplinary proceedings, which saw the conclusion of her hearing on Tuesday and the commencement of the deliberations of the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (IADP), the JAAA had provisionally named her to compete in the 100m and 4x100m relay, pending the outcome of the hearing.
The sprinter’s legal team has also called for an expedited process with the hopes of a favourable and timely result, which would allow her to compete in Doha, while JAAA boss Dr Warren Blake had even suggested that a hearing might not be necessary.
JAAA ERROR
However, Francis noted that the 17-year-old was not eligible for selection to the 100m in the first place and that the JAAA erred in its decision to include her in the team for the September 27 – October 6 championships.
“First of all, I think that obviously, neither the media nor the JAAA or hardly anybody in Jamaica has read the IAAF rules. The IAAF has an anti-doping rule for 2019, and in Section 9 of that rule, it clearly states that once there is an in-competition test and you turn up with a positive A and B sample for a
“The IAAF has an anti-doping rule for 2019 and in Section 9 of that rule, it clearly states that once there is an in-competition test and you turn up with a positive A and B sample for a banned substance, you are immediately disqualified.”
banned substance, you are immediately disqualified, your results are disqualified, and the results of any hearing that deals with punishment doesn’t matter,” Francis outlined.
Section 9 of the 2019 IAAF AntiDoping Rules states:
“An Anti-Doping Rule Violation in connection with an In-Competition test automatically leads to Disqualification of the Athlete’s individual results obtained in that Event, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, titles, awards, points, and prizes and appearance money. In addition, further results obtained by the Athlete in other Events may be Disqualified, in accordance with Article 10.1 (same Competition) and/or Article 10.8 (subsequent Competitions).”
WITHDRAWAL A CONSIDERATION
With no commitment from the Kent Gammon-chaired IADP panel to an early decision, Williams’ representative, Dr Emir Crowne, on Tuesday, noted that his client was considering withdrawing from the team and any 4x100m consideration so as not to prevent the possibility of future loss of a medal.
“It is a very clear rule, and it seems to me that nobody has bothered to read it,” Francis noted.
“That has nothing to do with whether or not it’s her fault. Clearly I would say that chances are it’s not her fault, but the point is that she competed with a banned substance, and that means that her competition results are null and void,” he added. “… The rule states clearly that all your results for that meet, heats, semi, and final are null and void and that all consequences from it, any medal, money, and in this case, a place on the Jamaican team, is also forfeited.”
Francis also took issue with talk of Williams possibly featuring in the 4x100m, noting that Kiara Grant, who, with Williams’ 10.94 expected to be deemed null and void based on the rule, would be the next best-ranked Jamaican on time in the 100m behind Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann FraserPryce with her 11.04 clocking and would be more deserving of a spot in the relay pool.
“When I read that they want to get the results by Thursday (today) so that she can come out and run the 100m, there is no basis for her to run the 100m.
She was not in the race by virtue of her positive (test), and even if you want to add her in the relay pool based on the times she ran, Kiara Grant is now the national junior record holder.
She (Grant) now has a faster time than her, so if you want an extra person, you would have to ask her (Grant) if she is available because all the times that she (Briana) ran at the Trials are null and void,” Francis noted.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s head coach at the World Championships Maurice Wilson, a member of the JAAA’s selection panel, said the decision to include Williams was a strategic one.
“Well the information is universal, it is not hidden, it is there for everyone to see, so the JAAA would have made a strategic decision on their part to include her in the team,” Wilson said.
Crowne could not be reached for comment.