Asafa Powell drug case taking too long according to WADA
The incoming president of the World Anti-Doping Association says Jamaica have taken too long to deal with the drugs case involving former 100metres world record holder Asafa Powell.
Sir Craig Reedie, who this week held talks with the new chief executive of the Jamaican anti-doping commission (JADCO), has called for a speedy resolution of the case.
Powell tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine at the Jamaican national trials in June but is not due to have a disciplinary hearing until January.
Three time Olympic medallist Sherone Simpson who at the time was also a member of Powell’s training group, tested positive for the same stimulant.
Reedie, who is also an IOC vice-president, takes over as WADA president from Australia’s John Fahey on January 1.
He told Press Association Sport: “There are a few cases ongoing in Jamaica, one of them a very high-profile one, and one of the issues is that it is taking too long to come to a conclusion.
“He has been under a cloud and if he has broken the rules then sport wants the case finalised, and if he hasn’t then he wants the cloud lifted.”
Reedie met new JADCO chief executive Carey Brown in Montreal this week, and believes Jamaica are on the right track in improving their testing regime after revelations that only one out-of-competition test was conducted in the six months leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
“WADA have been asked to go to Jamaica and help them with their structure and the sports minister has announced extra money for testing so one hopes they have got the message,” added Reedie, who said that the Caribbean island had in the past relied too heavily on the IAAF international athletics federation, especially for out-of-competition tests.
“People have to understand that Jamaica is not a test-free zone but they probably have relied too often on the IAAF’s efforts.”
Reedie also believes that the suspicion should not be directed at current 100m world record holder Usain Bolt or any Jamaican sprinter just because others have tested positive.
He said: “I know from the IAAF figures that he [Bolt] has been tested very regularly throughout 2013 and before. All of the top Jamaican athletes have been tested regularly by the international federation.”
Three other Jamaican athletes tested positive at the same time as Powell and Simpson in June and have also yet to learn their fate.
Discus thrower Allison Randall and high jumper Demar Robinson have appeared before a panel but no outcome has been disclosed. A hearing into men’s discus thrower Traves Smikle was delayed due to absence of witnesses but finally started this week. Smikle tested positive for the diuretic hydochlorothiazide (HCTZ).
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