ASAJ investigates father’s alleged abuse of swimmer

PRESIDENT OF the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) Martin Lyn said there is an ongoing investigation into allegations that a Jamaican father hit his daughter, a national swimmer, during a recent exchange training programme in China over the summer.

Lyn said he will reserve all comments on the matter until investigations are completed next week as he does not want to mislead anyone or make any premature announcements on the subject.

“I was not in China, and the fact is that it is alleged to have happened in China, so I really don’t want to have any comment on it right now,” he said.

“Actually, it is being investigated, so a lot of people are being premature. I don’t know what their ulterior motives are, so I don’t really know, and I don’t really want to spread any propaganda right now. But I am really trying to get all the facts because I wasn’t there, and I don’t know,” Lyn stated.

“The ASAJ constitution allows for due process. So I really want to live with the due process first. People will have ulterior motives, and that is why the media will have this (news) now. But it’s rather unfortunate because at this point in time, it is alleged,”he continued.

However, he is expecting investigations to be completed by the middle of next week.

“There are things happening and what I am focused on is the ASAJ annual general meeting tomorrow (today), so I am preparing for that. Certainly, by the middle of next week, we should be able to present a case. But I don’t want to say anything about it just now because I really want to get to the bottom of it first,” he said.

In July, an 18-member delegation comprising 15 swimmers, two coaches and a manager travelled to the Asian country to participate in a rigorous training course.

It is alleged the parent, who had grown frustrated with his daughter’s effort at the camp, lost his cool and struck the youngster in the presence of the Chinese hosts.