… officials find lab report confusing
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – The doping case against Jamaican sprinter Sherone Simpson has been further set back after officials failed to unravel the meaning of a long awaited report from a Sports Science Laboratory in Kentucky.Attorney for the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) Lackston Robinson told a panel yesterday that he was not able to continue because he could not understand the report.
Simpson and her lawyers say the report reveals that oxilofrine was found in the supplement Epiphany D1 consumed by the athlete.
“Having examined that lab documentation we have some concern about the report. That report is a highly technical document,” Robinson explained.
“We have persons in house who have limited training in the field of chemistry but they were not able to decipher the information in that document and we have therefore sought assistance in interpreting the document.”
Reports from Jamaica say Simpson seems frustrated as a result of the latest development in the hearing.
The Jamaican athlete and her legal team are anxious for a speedy end to the hearing which continued after two days in January.
“We must complete these matters next week,” said Robinson.
“It would not put the athlete at any disadvantage as far as time is concerned, because at the end of the day when this matter is complete it will be time for submissions.”
While Panel chairman Lennox Gayle agreed to postpone the hearing once again, Simpson’s lead attorney Kwame Gordon was annoyed.
Gordon described the decision as “unfortunate” and chided Robinson for seeking advice on a document in his possession “for more than three weeks”.
“We are here now ready to proceed and at the 11th hour in the heat of the battle, we are told we cannot proceed when there was sufficient time to meet that assessment,” said Gordon.
“With the greatest amount of respect to Mr. Robinson I think that is inadequate. The JADCO rules are clear, matters like these must be done expeditiously; the athlete has already suffered a disadvantage. The adverse analytical finding was from last year June.”