Veronica cleared of charges
DOPING Jamaican sprinter was suspended following a positive test for a banned diuretic
KINGSTON: Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown has been cleared to resume her career by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), her American-based lawyer Howard Jacobs said on Monday.
The twice Olympic 200 metres champion was suspended by her country’s national federation last year following a positive test for a banned diuretic.
“I can confirm that Veronica Campbell-Brown has been cleared by CAS,” Jacobs told Reuters by email.
“All of her past results have been reinstated and she is free to compete effective immediately.”
He said Campbell-Brown intended to compete at the world indoor championships in Poland next month.
Campbell-Brown, 31, said she had suffered much in the last few months. “However, my faith, family, friends and fans have stood by me as a source of encouragement,” she said in a statement on her management company’s website.
“The final court available to us as athletes have spoken and humbly I say they have confirmed my innocence,” Brown added.
Campbell-Brown tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide on May 4 at the Jamaica International Invitational World Challenge meet in Kingston.
She was provisionally suspended on June 18 by the Jamaican Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).
The JAAA disciplinary panel announced in October a public reprimand for the nine-times world championship medallist.
The CAS arbitration hearing took place between February 19-22.
“Because the CAS hearing was completed on an extremely expedited basis, the full reasons for the award have not yet been issued, and may not be issued for a few months,” Jacobs said.
“However, it is clear that the reason for the decision was a serious and fundamental breakdown in the manner in which Veronica Campbell-Brown’s urine sample was collected and handled in Jamaica on May 4, 2013.
“The integrity of the sample was not maintained and the results of any testing on that sample were therefore unreliable.”
CAS has ordered the JAAA to pay a portion of CampbellBrown’s legal costs in connection with the appeal, he said. Fans now have a reason to look beyond cricket. The second season of the Hockey India League was a success as well with corporate houses like Wave, Jaypee, Dabur and Yes Bank coming on board as sponsors. The month-long event saw 120 players from India and abroad competing in 34 matches. While hockey lovers got a chance to see the best in action, Delhi had a big reason to celebrate as the Waveriders, sponsored by the Wave Group, triumphed in the final in Ranchi on Sunday.