JAAA, JADCO staying patient over Taylor anti-doping charge
Published:Saturday | May 27, 2023 | 12:33 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) and the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) are committed to allowing the legal process to unfold in the wake of Jamaican quarter-miler Christopher Taylor’s anti-doping violation charge of evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection.
As reported by RadioJamaica Sports, the charge stems from an incident last November which has taken six months to investigate. Taylor has yet to make his 2023 season debut after a 2022 campaign which saw him make the World Championships 400 metres final and finish ranked 15th in the world.
If found guilty the violation puts him in breach of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code Article 2.3 which points to “refusing or failing without compelling justification to submit sample collection after notification as authorised in applicable anti-doping rules or otherwise evading sample collection”.
JADCO chairman Alexander Williams said that they are awaiting further information from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
“The matter is being handled by the AIU. We await official notification,” Williams told The Gleaner.
JADCO as well as Taylor and the JAAA have been notified of the charge with the JAAA releasing a statement saying that they are awaiting the outcome of the matter.
“He has legal representation and is going through the process. We are unable to comment further at this time and eagerly await the outcome,” the statement read.
JAAA president Garth Gayle added that while disappointed, they have to allow the process to run its course.
“It is a process. While we are not pleased, we have to allow the process to take its course,” Gayle told RadioJamaica Sports.
Taylor is facing a maximum four-year ban from the sport if found guilty. However, according to WADA Code article 10.3.1, the sentence could be reduced to two years if Taylor can “establish that the commission of the anti-doping violation was not intentional”. Additionally, if Taylor can “establish exceptional circumstances that justify a reduction of the period of ineligibility, the period of ineligibility shall be in a range of two to four years depending on the athlete or other person’s degree of fault.”
According to the AIU website regarding whereabouts requirements, an athlete is responsible for providing accurate and current whereabouts locations which include the following: 1)Provide an email address where correspondence may be sent and a telephone number where you can be contacted, 2) indicate each day of the quarter the full address of the location where you will stay overnight 3) Provide full address of each location where you have your regular activities well as the time frame for each activity, 4) Provide a detailed competition schedule for the quarter which includes the name and address of each location where you are slated to compete include travel day, competition day and full details of all travel plans, accommodations, training location and any activity around the event and 5) Identify for each day of the quarter a 60-minute time slot and a location attached to that slot where you must be available for testing.