2 months ago
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WHILE PREPARING to lose four of its key track and field athletes to Türkiye via a switch of allegiance, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has called for World Athletics to take action to prevent even more athletes from leaving for lucrative offers.
Speaking yesterday at the press launch of the JAAA National Junior and Senior Championships, JAAA President Garth Gayle addressed the recent news that Jamaica is set to lose a number of its elite athletes.
These athletes include Olympic medallists Roje Stona, Rajindra Campbell, and Wayne Pinnock, along with world U20 triple jump record holder Jaydon Hibbert, who are all set to switch allegiance to Türkiye.
Gayle said the association was not pleased to be losing a number of its key athletes, but said it is a growing trend for nations like Jamaica to be targeted by programmes which boast better resources.
“We’re not happy. We surely can’t be happy,” he said. “Four talented young athletes. That’s like a brain drain in teaching that’s happening.”
“There is a resurgence of what is happening to Jamaica. We’re not the only ones. We recently learned also of Nigeria; and who is to say that there are not others that will be coming out in short order between now and a particular deadline.”
Gayle explained the JAAA will work in accordance to the rules and regulations set by the sport’s governing body, and said he holds no grudges to the departing athletes.
However, he is prepared to reach out to World Athletics to raise concerns regarding Jamaica becoming a target for richer countries to recruit the programme’s best talents.
He also confirmed he will be raising the matter at the upcoming 55th World Athletics Congress which will be held in Tokyo, Japan in September.
“It will be raised,” he insisted. “We are putting it in black and white, and we will be sending to World Athletics to be heard at the congress. I am taking a written copy to the congress in Tokyo, Japan, and Jamaica’s voice will be heard, and I am sure I will be having quite a number of colleagues following me with this notion.”
He added, “It is not easy to accept, but we must manage within the rules of the competition as well as the rules of engagement with the World Athletics body. We can’t speak only from an emotional point.”
‘FOUL PLAY’
Ian Forbes, first vice-president of JAAA, also argued that Türkiye’s targeted recruitment could fall foul of the World Athletics regulations regarding the switching of allegiances.
He was making a reference to the World Athletics Transfer of Allegiance Regulation 1.2.1, which states that athletes must have “a genuine connection with the country or territory represented, and do not switch either abruptly or frequently to other national representative teams for purely mercenary reasons”.
Forbes believes Türkiye’s recruitment strategy is based on offering the best financial offers to entice athletes to make the switch.
“It is not surprising that they would have gone after our athletes by cherrypicking and using, at its surface, financial incentives. We have seen other emerging countries going about it differently by recruiting our coaches, and other coaches, to try and build [their programmes],” he said.
“It is obvious that Türkiye’s strategy is to go for the financial inducements to get the athletes to switch. The sport has become a business. It is not the favourite pastime that it used to be many years ago.
“The document also speaks to it. Is it strictly for financial inducement? That’s the terminology that is used. I’m not necessarily saying that is what it is or even using the term, but it has to be looked at.”
Forbes admitted, however, that he cannot fault the athletes for taking the offer, as it would bring a lot of benefits to their individual careers, noting that Jamaica simply cannot offer the same benefits.
“The sport has changed, and it’s still evolving. I think World Athletics, and by extension, JAAA and other federations need to keep pace with the evolution of the sport and preserving its integrity.
“The athletes have a right to decide which direction to go. They have to look and act on what they think is in their best interest.
“One should not necessarily be upset with the athletes based on the uncertainty of the sport. One injury and it can be over pretty quickly.”
English (US) ·