Nervous wait continues for Fenlator-Victorian
Published:Friday | September 14, 2018 | 12:00 AMAkino Ming/Staff Reporter
Two months have passed since Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian and the Jamaica Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (JBSF) submitted what they believe is a "strong case" in their efforts to extricate the 32-year-old from her anti-doping violation matter.
However, according to president of the Federation, Chris Stokes, they have still not heard anything from the International Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation (IBSF). Stokes noted that they are still optimistic that the ruling will show that the pilot of the historic Jamaican two-man female team did not intentionally try to gain an unfair advantage.
"We still haven't heard anything, but we are still positive that they will realise that she did not intentionally put this thing in her body," Stokes told The Gleaner recently.
Fenlator- Victorian and former national sprinter Carrie Russell created history when they became the first female Jamaican team to qualify for a Winter Olympics.
Their qualification evoked memories of the historic four-man men's team that qualified for the 1988 Winter Games. Fenlator- Victorian and Russell, along with their reserve, Audra Segree, finished 19th out of 20 teams at the Pyeongchang Winter Games in South Korea earlier this year.
BANNED SUBSTANCE
Weeks later, news broke that Fenlator-Victorian returned an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance Clenbuterol.
Stokes believes the small amount that was found in the USA-based athlete's system indicates that her objective was not to gain an unfair advantage.
"When you look at the nature of the substance and the amount that was detected - a very minimal level - when you take into consideration that she was tested weeks after that (positive test) and nothing was there, I believe we have a strong case," Stokes said.
Clenbuterol is widely used to treat respiratory issues, but as a stimulant, influences an increase in aerobic capacity, central nervous system stimulation, blood pressure, and oxygen transportation. Fenlator- Victorian is facing a maximum ban of four years.