The much anticipated Alonzo Greaves birth anniversary 30-lap cycle race which was scheduled for the inner circuit of the National Park yesterday was called off,according to the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF).
According to a GCF source, the reason for the cancellation is the fact that Greaves is still serving a one year ban in accordance to the Union of Cycling International (UCI) rules.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, Greaves said he feels very depressed because the two previous events which were organized in his name,the local cyclists were very happy and enthusiastic to be a part of the activity.
“I am not staging this event to make money, rather, I’m am putting money into the cyclist’s pockets as a reward for their hard work and dedication” Greaves stated, adding “I just want to give back to the sport and assist with the development of the sport local. It’s not that I want to party or anything like that for my birth anniversary.”
Greaves said the suspension will end on November 1 and he will either stage the event just after or probably wait until next year.
Once a cyclist has been served with a ban, that cyclist cannot in any way be associated with the sport until that ban is over.However, he/she can train in isolation but not alongside any cyclist/s.
The much talked about event, carried in all the dailies over a three-week period,had attracted great support from the cycling fraternity and other persons right up to yesterday morning,just prior to the scheduled 11:00hrs start
Guyana’s leading wheelmen,including defending champion Geron Williams, Raynauth Jeffrey, Raul Leal, Orville Hinds, Michael Anthony, Mark Harris, Jamal John, Andrew Hicks, Romello Crawford and Akeem Wilkinson,were among the attendees.
Greaves was suspended for one year by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), after he failed a doping test. He was one of 10 identified by the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) for random testing at the conclusion of the Tour of Guyana Five-Stage race in November 2015.
The Disciplinary Panel noted that Greaves admitted to the charge, but stated that the infraction was not intentional. This is his first violation and he waived his right to have the “B” sample analyzed.
It was decided that Greaves shall be disqualified in respect of the Tour of Guyana Five-Stage Cycle Race and any prize money and ranking points obtained therein shall be forfeited. The 12-month period of ineligibility started on November 1, 2015 and ends on November 1, 2016.
During this period, Greaves would be barred from participating in any capacity in any event or activity or competition authorized, organized or sanctioned by the Guyana Olympic Association, and is ineligible to participate in any capacity in any national, regional or international sport activity for a period of 12 months.