Guyanese pedal cyclist Alanzo Greaves has denied being tested positive for drugs after the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) carried out a random test on ten cyclists that participated in the `Tour of Guyana’ Five Stage road race which concluded on November 1.Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday via telephone, Greaves, one of the country’s most successful cyclists of this time said he knows nothing about the findings since he has not been informed of this situation by RADO and it is protocol that the athlete in question should be informed first before the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) is informed.
Greaves said at this time he would not comment further on the matter until and only when he receives word from RADO.
However, in another section of the media, it has been reported that Greaves was tested positive along with three other cyclists whose names were not mentioned in the article.
This information was conveyned via a face book posting from president of the GCF, Horrace Burrowes, who is based in the United States of America from where he dictates what happens in cycling locally.
According to the face book posting, Burrowes said “Alonzo Greaves is facing suspension for a positive Anti-Doping test. I can confirm Mr. Alanzo Greaves has tested positive for a prohibited substance. He was tested on Sunday November 1, 2015 at the tour of Guyana.
Mr. Alanzo Greaves was notified by the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO).
Members of the GCF would like to thank Mrs. Karen Pilgrim and Guyana Olympic Association for conducting these tests.With these random tests that was conducted, not only Alanzo Greaves has tested positive but Cyclists from Barbados, Jamaica and Columbia also tested positive. Guyana Cycling Federation will continue to work closely with Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) to continue to conduct random testing and to bring order to the sport that we all love”.
An e-mail received by Chronicle Sport yesterday from Jamaica’s Cycling Federation (JCF) Kirk Franklin, responded to Burrowes’ release which stated a Jamaican was tested positive also.
Franklin in his e-mail said “the article above was brought to the attention of the Jamaica Cycling Federation within the last 45 minutes and I have read the post.The statement is unfortunate as JCF’s President nor the athlete has been contacted in relation to any such proposterous test result by any formal testing body, which is protocol based on the understanding of the JCF. Marloe Rodman is a Jamaican who trains hard and executes on race day, drug free.
We are preparing a formal response to this defamatory and untrue post and we hope that good sense prevails with the withdrawal of the allegations post-haste accompanied by a formal apology using the same medium that was used to defame our athlete and sully Jamaica’s reputation”.
Two of three Guyana Olympic Association’s representatives (Dr. Karten Pilgrim and treasurer Garfield Wiltshire) that were chaperons to the random drug test told Chronicle Sport that they cannot comment on test results as it pertains to the Guyanese who tested positive for using a ban substance.
They both said it is protocol for RADO to inform the athlete then the relevant association and from there the athlete could request that his B sample be sent for testing and if not satisfied with the result can move to the courts to challenge the results.
By Michael DaSilva