MULLINGS
Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
ATHENS, Greece:
SPRINTER STEVE Mullings will not be at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
That is the final word from chef de mission of the Jamaican delegation here, Don Anderson, following the positive drug test returned by the former Vere Technical athlete.
"The question that many people want to ask is will Mullings be in the team? The answer is no," Anderson, the Jamaica Olympic Association's (JOA) first vice president, said at a briefing inside the International Zone at the Olympic Village yesterday.
He said the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) had been forced by bad weather to postpone last week's scheduled hearing for the national 200 metres champion.
HURRICANE CHARLEY
"There has been a fair degree of flooding in Jamaica because of Hurricane Charley and Mullings could not reach Kingston for the hearing and I do not think a new date has been set yet," Anderson said.
In explaining the 22-year-old's case Dr. Herb Elliot said: "Once an athlete's B sample tests positive he or she is automatically suspended and cannot compete until after a hearing by his national association and a review by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) council."
According to Elliot, a hearing followed by a process of review by the IAAF and a possible appeal by the athlete to the Court of Arbitration for Sports is likely to last over three months. Track and field events at the Olympics start on Thursday and end on August 29.
Mullings tested positive for excessive levels of testosterone at the June 25-27 National Senior Championships. He placed second in the 100 metres and won the 200 metres at the Championships.
SPRINT RELAY TEAM
He was expected to compete in both events at the Games in addition to being an important member of the men's sprint relay team.
Meanwhile, Dr. Elliot said all was well with the track and field team here four days before they start competition at the Athens Olympic Stadium.
Historically most attention has been focused on Jamaica's track and field teams which have won all but one of the island's medals at the Games since 1948.
"There are one or two niggling injuries but for the most part our athletes here are fit. Whatever problems they have the medical team is looking after it adequately. I know that a lot of people were concerned because two of our younger athletes were asked to do physical examination just before they left.
"I wish to state right now that both Usain Bolt and Jermaine Gonzales have been training effectively and have not shown signs of any injuries at the moment."
ROASTING TEMPERATURES
Dr. Elliot added that adequate measures are being taken to keep athletes fully protected from the roasting temperatures in the Greek capital.
Temperatures have risen to over 93 degrees F over the past week with little wind and high humidity.
"Yes it's hot, yes it's humid but all our athletes have been drinking constantly . We have sports drinks, we have water. There is no problem of dehydration and the coaches have scheduled their workouts at the hours athletes will compete thus acclimatising them to the conditions they will encounter during their events."
Anderson also introduced veteran broadcaster Ed Barnes as the JOA's press attaché. Anderson said Barnes would help to disseminate news from the delegation here so that they can give out what he termed 'controlled information'.
The JOA vice president defined 'controlled information' as giving the same information to everybody at the same time.
