Brooks cleared to compete in Berlin

Eurosport - Thu, 06 Aug 15:55:00 2009

Sprinter Sheri-Ann Brooks, one of five Jamaican athletes to test positive for a banned stimulant in June, has been cleared for the World Championships due to an 'irregularity' in testing for her second sample.

ATHLETICS 2007 Dakar Grand Prix Sheri-ann brooks jamaica - 0

Brooks, who tested positive for the stimulant methylxanthine along with four other world squad members at the Jamaican national championships, was cleared after a disciplinary hearing, Jamaican anti-doping officials said.

"We had a meeting with Ms Sheri-Ann Brooks today and we were unable to impose a sanction on her, as there was an irregularity with the testing of the B sample that was raised by her counsel," Kent Gammon, head of the Jamaica Anti Doping Agency's disciplinary committee, said after the hearing.

"Therefore, we were unable to conclude that she was guilty of an offence," Gammon said of Brooks, who won 100 metres gold in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

The four other athletes, Alodin Fothergill, Yohan Blake, Lansford Spence and Marvin Anderson, face disciplinary hearings into their failed tests.

A source with knowledge of the testing proceedings said local doping officials had breached procedure by authorising the 'B' sample tests without authorisation from the athletes.

The source said only Brooks's 'B' sample was tested before the foul-up was detected - and the irregularity did not apply to the other athletes.

"This means that the athlete must be cleared, as she did not give permission for her urine sample to be tested behind her back," the source said.

"The rule is clear, the athlete must be present or have a representative at the testing of the 'B' sample, or waive his right to have the sample tested without a witness."

Although a Jamaica athletics official on Monday said the doping hearings would preclude them from going to the August 15-23 World Championships in Berlin, officials on Wednesday clarified that Brooks would be eligible to join the world team, as would the other athletes, if cleared.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 8 of 8

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  1. We any otherare all entitled to our respective­ opinions...whether the athletes are guilty or­ not
    should be left to the relevant agencies who have­ much of the factual information we all might not be­ privy to. I still believe in the time proven­ adage:" Let the legal process adjudicate...­ innocent until proven guity." Having said that, it­ is my opinion that there are "cheats" in all­ types of sport whether they are Jamaicans or another­ nationality. Sport has become so economically­ transcending and nationalistic that people look beyond­ fair play to achieve thier ends.

    From delbert t, on Sat 8 Aug 11:37PM

  2. We know that there are alot of people who are happy to­ jump on our backs and claim we are cheating. I guess no­ matter how the hearings go there are people who will­ stick to their position. I am confident that we are not­ drug users - at least not our athletes - and we do­ have a low tolerance for users of drugs. We will­ continue to do well and it does not matter what the­ naysayers do or say

    From Balvin, on Fri 7 Aug 8:09PM

  3. Them jammy cake joka man's have historically and­ religiously always cheated!
    viciunas needs an­ education and paula cant spell..lol.

    From Joseph, on Thu 6 Aug 3:33PM

  4. you don't even know what you're talking about­ ajpbolton.they got busted by jamaican antidoping agency­ for some @#$% stimulant that isn't even banned by­ WADA(world anti-doping agency).i think they all should­ be cleared

    From viciunas, on Thu 6 Aug 1:55PM

  5. if you get caught CHEATING, you should be banned from­ competing for life, simple. no ifs or buts, automatic­ life ban.

    From ajpbolton, on Thu 6 Aug 1:39PM

  6. This smells like the works of the U.S of AAA. THEY LOVE­ TO F$@K UP JAMAICAN RUNNERS.

    From Winston, on Thu 6 Aug 12:29PM

  7. to all you bad mine people out there jamaican don't­ need to take drus to be a good runner they have talent­ look back in history . just get off the jamaica back ­ please

    From Paula, on Thu 6 Aug 10:38AM

  8. Its regularity for jamaicans to find excuses to cheat.­ SHE STILL FAILED THE TESTS. Her 4 other team mates will­ think they've been stuck up..lol.The decision makes­ her look worse now and the JAA­ arseholes...everyone's gonna think they are all­ CHEATS, which they are!
    Stimulant Xanthine is often­ found in sports nourishment performance enhancement­ drink alongside a testosterone compound. Which explains­ why their female athletes built like big man.
    HISTORY­ HAS SHOWN THAT WHEN SOMETHING LOOKS TOO GOOD, ITS­ BECAUSE THEY ON DRUGS!!

    From sloflowrida, on Thu 6 Aug 9:45AM
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