Clunis puts Olympic fate in the hands of CAS
Published:Friday | July 19, 2024 | 12:10 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
DR EMIR Crowne, attorney- at-law, representing embattled hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis, believes a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) should be available by Monday.
Clunis had, on Tuesday, asked her lawyers to write to the CAS, should there have been no response from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) by 5 p.m. that day.
According to reports, Clunis had been irked by a lack of response from the JAAA about whether or not there could have been a reversal in her Olympic status.
The hammer throw athlete is trying to have her name added to Jamaica’s team to the Paris Olympics, after the JAAA had accidentally omitted it from a list of athletes sent to World Athletics, leaving her without a place.
According to Crowne, CAS is usually cognisant of the need to move quickly on matters of this nature.
“The JAAA and other interested parties were given until today (yesterday) at 6 p.m. Paris time to file their submissions. Following that, the panel will then decide whether to hold a hearing or if they feel they have enough to make a ruling. Against that, Olympic disputes tend to be decided very quickly, so if there’s no oral hearing, we can expect a decision by Monday, the latest,” said Crowne.
Crowne says the uncertainty surrounding what would be Clunis’ Olympic debut is having a significant effect on the athlete.
“This is taking a toll on her emotionally and mentally. She is overwhelmed by all of this, as this is literally the most important event of an athlete’s life and career. This is the most important event for the JAAA’s own existence, just to ensure that athletes are properly registered. She’s overwhelmed by the fact of this colossal error and act of negligence that has left her without a potential Olympic spot,” said Crowne.
Clunis rightfully booked her spot for the Paris Olympics following her national record throw of 71.93m back in May. The mark put her in the top 32 throwers in the world this year.
Despite the challenges, Crowne is keeping his fingers crossed that the matter will be resolved in short order.
“We’re hoping that something comes from the process and that she gets some relief from what’s clearly been an injustice done to her,” he said.