A JAMAICA Anti-doping Disciplinary Panel will take the next three to four weeks to determine the fate of T20 star Andre Russell, who failed to file his whereabouts information three times between January and July 2015. The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) claims Russell was negligent in filing his whereabouts on January 1, July 1 and July 25.
JADCO Executive Director Carey Brown testified that Russell had been contacted by phone and letters reminding him about filing his whereabouts on the three occasions he missed the tests.
If found guilty, Russell could be faced with a lengthy ban as three missed tests is the equivalent to a failed doping test. Under the revised WADA code, a first doping offence attracts a four-year ban.
On Thursday, attorneys representing the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) and the beleaguered cricketer submitted their closing statements to the tribunal comprised of Hugo Faulkner, Dr Majorie Vassell and former Jamaica cricketer Dixieth Palmer.
The session which began shortly after 10:00hrs finally ended shortly after 18:00hrs as time was extended by an additional two hours to allow both sides to complete submissions.
“We sought to complete that process today rather than extend it to another day, so we were successful in the completion of the submissions by both sides, so it’s now for the steno writer to prepare the transcripts for today’s proceedings and then the panel will deliberate and then we will make our decision,” panel chairman Hugo Faulkner told SportsMax.tv.
“Chances are we may give a verbal decision and shortly thereafter the written decision.”
Faulkner said the panel is seeking to have the transcripts within another 7-10 days and then in another 14 days to bind themselves to making the decision. (Sportsmax.com)