THE EDITOR, Sir: A few months ago, Ms Renee Ann Shirley just about achieved ‘least loved citizen’ status in Jamaica when she painted an unflattering view of the competence of the local agency set up to test our athletes for doping violations. Now, Dr Paul Wright – apparently jealous of Ms Shirley’s status, is reported as having gone to the international press claiming, among other things, that the failed drug tests by some of our athletes recently are just the ‘tip of the iceberg’. For those who do not know the meaning of that phrase, it is said that the section of the iceberg that can be seen above water is just about 10 per cent of what really exists. With that one sentence, Dr Wright not only trumped Ms Shirley’s ‘least loved citizen’ status but cast a toxic cloud of suspicion over every single Jamaican athlete.
When I started a track-and-field programme at Holmwood Technical High School many years ago, it was woefully underfunded. Athletes were getting about 55 per cent of their nutritional requirements. Things were so bad that the full training programme could not be carried out. Yet, I was amazed at the potential of these youngsters. I also observed this in neighbouring schools where soft drinks and bag juice played a prominent role in their diets. They were special and I searched for reasons why this was so.
About seven years ago, I was in the company of some foreign talent scouts and journalists who were attending Champs. The class three, 100 meters semi- finals had just been completed and the scouts and journalists were in awe, claiming that they had not seen this kind of talent anywhere else in the world. “And it’s not just two or three good ones” one added.
outside testing
I still have not found a suitable explanation, but this much I can say, we are outstanding. I remember one of our leading athletes telling me that Jamaican athletes get tested so often when they go abroad that she wondered where the testers found time to test athletes from other countries.
What I would like to ask Dr Wright is this. Is it possible that someone in your position could have credible reservations about the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission programme and no one locally would listen to you? Not even the prime minister and minister of sport? I think not. Did you, Dr Wright, in preparing for your BBC interview contemplate the harm this claim could do to clean, innocent athletes?
Dr Wright has wronged us. He has hurt every single Jamaican athlete – not only those who are now performing, but those who have retired and those yet to come. The international community is suspicious. Some seem to be sure that some ‘hanky panky’ is taking place on a national scale. Maybe I would too if I had not found excellence all around me at Holmwood long before any doping could be contemplated or consumed.
Can’t we accomplish anything without some bloodletting?
Glenn Tucker