Hylton, Crowne expect favourable anti-doping ruling

Riker Hylton's legal representative, Dr Emir Crowne, has said that he is confident of a favourable ruling in the 2011 World Championship 4x400m relay bronze medallist's hearing for an anti-doping charge brought about by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Committee (JADCO), which took place over the last two days at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.

Crowne was speaking after the closing of day two, and said he does not expect any undue complications in the decision to be made by the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (IADP).

"I personally do feel strongly about the case," Crowne said. "It's not one of those cases where there is any sort of grey area. It's either he (Hylton) was notified (that he was selected for a doping control test) or he wasn't, and in our view, he wasn't notified properly at all."

The second day of the hearing started controversially with the IADP asking the complainant (JADCO) to submit a document, which it claimed contained statements which led to their investigation of Hylton but JADCO's legal representative Lackston Robinson had said this document is covered by legal privilege, which means that it is protected from being disclosed without the permission of the person of the client. This is after JADCO executive director Carey Brown had said during his testimony the previous day that he did not want to disclose the details as it could compromise other JADCO affairs.

After Robinson refused to submit the document to the IADP despite being ordered to, Crowne argued that the case be thrown out on the basis of unfairness, saying it compromises the order of natural justice. The panel unanimously declined Crowne's request and carried on with the case.

Crown said he felt disappointed by this decision, saying it was disconcerting that Robinson would disrespect the panel in refusing to turn over the document.

WITNESS STATEMENTS

The three witnesses who gave statements on the day were Riker Hylton, fellow athlete Jonique Day and Hylton's manager Marvin Anderson. His coach, Bert Cameron, was also set to give his testimony via telephone but it was then decided his written statement would be used instead, as he is at home recovering from a surgery and was not in good enough health to do so on the day.

In his testimony, Hylton refused JADCO chaperone Damon Smith's claim a day earlier that Hylton refused to be tested, saying he had not even met him before the hearing started. He also said his coach offered to have him and fellow athletes Kaliese Spencer and Christine Day tested on the spot, after being called into JADCO headquarters on April 27, 2016, hours after the alleged incident. However, he said Brown assured him that testing would not be needed or necessary and that he (Brown) was acting in the best interest of the athletes.

Robinson, who refused to speak to the media, called Hylton and Anderson's credibility into question throughout their testimonies with the use of video evidence, which conflicted official statements both made.

Final submissions will be made by both teams on or before June 30 and a decision made by the IADP on or before July 31.

rachid.parchment@gleanerjm.com