Tracey cries foul
Lawyer complains that indefinite adjournment leaves athlete in limbo
Published:Friday | June 21, 2024 | 12:09 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
SAYEED BERNARD, the lawyer representing two-time 100 metres national champion Tyquendo Tracey, is baffled by the decision of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) to adjourn his disciplinary hearing indefinitely.
Bernard is requesting a full dismissal of the charges against Tracey.
“It’s totally improper in the way it’s being dealt with, in that they’ve recognised that there’s no evidence to bring these allegations against my client. Therefore, what they’ve sought to do is adjourn indefinitely, which is wrong. What should be done is dismiss the matter,” Bernard opined.
“Further to meeting on June 15th with your client Mr Tyquendo Tracey and yourself, the chairman of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s Disciplinary Committee has further reviewed the complaint against him and decided that the matter be adjourned sine die,” read a letter dated June 19 and signed by Marie Tavares, honorary secretary of the JAAA.
Tracey was charged with two breaches of the JAAA’s ‘long-established disciplinary policy’ in relation to his public disagreement of the selection process for Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The 31-year-old, at the time of the incident, took to social media to complain about his exclusion and claimed that the selected runner was primarily included because Maurice Wilson, the team’s technical leader, was also his coach.
Wilson, in his defence, called the comments defamatory.
“There’s no way I will not seek redress in reference to my character,” Wilson had said.
With the national senior trials set to start in less than a week, Bernard said Tracey and his legal team are in an uncomfortable situation.
“The defence is not pleased. What we are saying is, this needs to be put to bed once and for all. This shouldn’t be adjourned to a later date so they can bring it up. Jamaica should not hear about this again,” said Bernard.
Bernard added that the timeline between the alleged incidents and the hearing is ‘curious’.
“It’s curious and I’ll leave the Jamaicans to read into that one. The timeline is ridiculous, and it tells me that the organisation doesn’t think about their athletes and their best interests. There needs to be a written code of conduct that is agreed and signed on by coaches, athletes and the organisation (JAAA), and things set in place to state by when charges ought to be brought.”