#ReturnToLondon: JAAA votes in favour of Russia's appeal for ban to be lifted

LONDON, England:
Jamaica is again facing backlash for opposing the IAAF Council on the controversial issue of doping.

The latest incident came on Thursday at the IAAF Congress in London where Jamaica was among 21 countries which voted in favour of Russia's appeal for their doping ban from the Athletics to be lifted.

This is eight months after the Dr Warren Blake-led JAAA executive abstained from a vote on sweeping reform change.

Last November's "Time for Change" proposal was aimed at moving the sport forward from a tainted past, integrity and disciplinary functions along with a greater voice for athletes in the organistion and more gender balance.

166 countries voted in favour of keeping Russia's Drug ban in place, meaning the European powerhouse fell short of the two-thirds majority they required to be re-admitted. 

The Russian ban has been in place since November 2015 following a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency which found evidence of state-supported doping.

Among the other countries who voted to lift the ban were Bangladesh, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Jordan, Lebanon, Macau, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nauru, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Romania, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

- By Kayon Raynor