Both sides tight-lipped in Williams hearing

Jamaican junior sprinter Briana Williams faced the Independent Anti-doping Disciplinary Panel (IADP) yesterday as day one of her hearing got under way at the Eden Garden Wellness Resort and Spa.

Williams was present with her representative Dr Emir Crowne, and gave her testimony as to the circumstances behind the positive finding of the banned diuretic Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).

Her representatives have claimed no wrongdoing in the matter, alleging that her positive result was from a contaminated cold and flu medicine which contained traces of the substance was the cause.

IADP chairman Kent Gammon said that the panel received majority of the evidence by both parties and are close to making a ruling.

“Today went well,” he said. “We have had most of the evidence in. [Today] we’ll come in and take the final part of the hearing,” he said.

Gammon said that an expert is expected to give additional information relating to the matter, before the panel makes a decision. When asked if the hearing could be decided today, he was noncommittal in his response.

SATISFIED

“Not sure. Don’t want to make a pronouncement right now but [today] we’ll know,” he said.

Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) representative, Ian Wilkinson, said that they are satisfied with the proceedings so far.

“All I can say that a number of witnesses gave evidence,” he said. “We had a full day [yesterday].”

Crowne, when asked about the opening day proceedings, declined to comment until the matter is closed.

Williams has been provisionally included in Jamaica’s World Championship squad for Doha, but if she is cleared, faces a short window to make it in time for the start of the competition which starts this Friday. If found guilty, she faces a maximum four-year ban.

The three day hearing scheduled to end tomorrow.

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