Verdict on Jarrett Tuesday

Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter

THE JAMAICAN panel investigating the positive drug test returned by sprinter Patrick Jarrett has reached a verdict.

However, the result will not be revealed until Tuesday.

Members of the five-member panel, headed by Dr Alfred Sangster, met on Friday to wrap up the proceedings but were tightlipped about their decision. The panel, which also includes Professor Errol Morrison, attorneys Anthony Pearson and Lincoln Eatmon and Dr Aggrey Irons was meeting for the fifth time regarding the matter.

"The report was filed and delivered to Mr (Patrick) Anderson. I personally handed him the sealed envelope. I told him that we had reached a unanimous agreement and it was in the envelope," Dr Sangster said.

"I am not at liberty to discuss the contents of what was in that envelope," he said.

The Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) head confirmed he had received the envelope.

"Yes, I got the results but I am not going to open it yet. In fact, this is not a one-man show so I'm going to meet the other members of the executive next week Tuesday so that we can all look at it together.

"A decision was reached, I understand. The panel came together to prepare the findings but we are going to wait until next week to release the result," Anderson said.

After the contents have been reviewed, the JAAA will make a submission to the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), the governing body for the sport.

"We will send the results to the IAAF for them to make their decision. Our tribunal will say one thing but only they can decide where things go from there. They make the final decision," Anderson added.

Jarrett and his defence team, led by attorney Patrick Bailey, came out smiling after the final hearing held on Wednesday at the Hilton Kingston Hotel.

Bailey reportedly made an "extensive submission", citing they had nothing on his client.

Reports of mixed up samples had also surfaced, but Dr Sangster put all that to rest, saying "the panel considered that as a possibility, yes, but did not feel that this was the case.

"Mr Jarrett initially signed a form saying that the sample was his and the information given was correct.

That's what he gave to Dr Blake in the doping room but when the sample came back he said it couldn't have been his.

"Mr Bailey, the attorney representing Jarrett questioned that but we did our investigations so now that's sorted out."

Jarrett finished second at the National Championships in June. A random drug test was conducted and he tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol.

If found guilty, he faces a two-year ban from the sport.

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