IT is rather ironic, as it is unfortunate, that on the heels of this brouhaha concerning Jamaica's dope testing procedures for its track and field athletes, the 'A' sample from one of the country's runners turns up positive.

The criticisms came by way of articles carried in the British and American media, with a July 8 BBC report extensively quoting the head of the Caribbean's Regional Anti-Doping Organisation, Dr. Adrian Lorde, concerning not only the amount of dope testing done in this country, but also quite rudely, the capabilities of personnel here to conduct such procedures.

Fast times

Much of the negative focus would have been influenced by the fast times being recorded by the country's athletes at this time, especially the sprinters who look set to dominate the 100 and 200 metres events at the Olympics in a few weeks, as well as the uncertain circumstances in which the sport has found itself with a number of big achievers - including United States Olympic ace Marion Jones - admitting to doping recently despite never having returned a positive test and continually denying drug use.

Quite ironic, though, is the fact that the big names Jamaican athletes who are running fast, fast, the prominent ones who it is safe to assume would have forced the criticisms due to their excellent form, are not implicated.

This is indeed, very refreshing, pleasing to say the least.

These athletes include male sprinters Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, who have run the fastest 100-metre times, and females Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart and Shelly-Ann Fraser.

Besides Fraser, the others are long-established world class sprinters with proven track records.

Bolt and Campbell-Brown, especially, have been exceptional athletes throughout their career with individual gold medals and sensational times and achievements tracing back to youth competition, including the World Youth and World Junior Championships.

Phenomenal talent

Bolt, the World Junior 200m record holder, has achieved much in his relatively short stint as a 100m runner and the man with undoubted speed has now added that world record to his stocks, which has surprised in some quarters, but not this one because he has long been recognised as a phenomenal talent.

Late-blooming Powell and Simpson have been among the sport's leading performers for some time, while Stewart - a member of Jamaica's gold medal winning relay squad from the Athens Games - has improved steadily over the years.

Fraser has simply burst out of the blocks.

Besides Fraser, all these athletes run primarily overseas, since the Jamaica International Invitational is this country's only little 'Grand Prix'. The real Grand Prix take place in Europe, and Bolt even established the 100m world record at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York, United States.

And they get some heavy drug testing. Even prior to the National Championships here, contracted workers from the United States Anti-Doping Agency came to Jamaica and tested a number of MVP athletes including Powell, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Michael Frater.

So, even without having an Anti-Doping Commission now, questions surrounding the testing procedures here might even be considered disingenuous because the athletes are rigorously tested at meets overseas.

This, though, does not excuse the establishment of a commission to effect those important functions and the recent passing of a bill in parliament - just last Friday - to set up Jamaica's Anti-Doping Com-mission is most healthy.

The same can be said about testing procedures here. The athlete who tested positive and has been removed from the team, the one on whom fingers have been pointed, returned the test after the National Championships here.

Procedures

Rightfully, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has declined to name the athlete because there are certain procedures to be followed in a five-day period that also grants the athlete options to admit drug use or get a 'B' sample tested.

Based on the evidence of one name withdrawn from the 25-member team posted on the JOA website since news broke, the athlete implicated migrated from Jamaica at age 10 and has been living, competing and training outside abroad. Ironic, yet unfortunate. Isn't it?

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