Local Olympic body confirms Jamaican athlete returned adverse finding

The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has issued a release confirming that it has received notification from the  International Olympic Committee (IOC) that a Jamaican athlete has returned an adverse analytical result from the re-testing programme of samples from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

However, the JOA says under anti-doping rules it has to maintain confidentiality of the result and identities at this point.

"Accordingly, the JOA will not be in a position to provide any further details on the matter until a hearing has determined the outcome of the issue and we have been officially advised," it added. 

READ: 'A' Sample sprinter Nesta Carter tests positive for banned substance

The Gleaner this morning identified the athlete as Nesta Carter, the 2013 World Championships 100m bronze medal winner.

He could now face a public reprimand or up to an 18-month suspension if the stimulant Methylhexaneamine, which was found in his ‘A’ sample, is confirmed by his ‘B’ sample test results.

Methylhexaneamine which was added to the World Anti Doping Agency’s list as a specified substance – or one that is more predisposed to a “credible non-doping explanation” and has caused the loss of medal in previous cases.

Carter ran the first leg as Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team, which also included Michael Frater, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, recorded a then world record 37.10 seconds to win gold ahead of Trinidad and Tobago and Japan in Beijing.

The sprinter was also a member of gold medal – winning 4x100m relay teams at the 2011 (Daegu), 2013 (Moscow) and 2015 (Beijing) World Championships, as well as the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

IMPORTANT FACTS:

1. Methylhexaneamine (MHA), which sometimes is presented as dimethylamylamine, remains prohibited in competition as a specified stimulant under Section 6.b. of the World Anti- Doping Code

2. It has been considered a stimulant at least since WADA took over responsibility for the Banned Substance List in 2004.

3. It was reclassified on the 2011 List to become a ‘specified substance’ (meaning it's if found in an athlete's bodily sample it maybe likely to have s credible, non-doping explantation).

4. Methylhexaneamine was sold as a medicine up to the early 1970s and has medicinal properties, but to WADA’s knowledge it has not been sold as a medicine since then.

- Facts taken from the WADA website