6 hours ago
1
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Garth Gayle said there has still been no formal correspondence from Türkiye about the impending allegiance switches of Olympic men’s discus gold medallist and record holder Roje Stona, Olympic men’s long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock, Olympic men’s shot put bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell, and World U20 triple jump record holder Jaydon Hibbert.
The four have already started their naturalisation processes with Türkiye, but Gayle noted that the association has had no part to play in the process.
The JAAA boss, who spoke publicly on top athletes transferring allegiance from Jamaica to Türkiye in recent weeks for the first time at the launch of the National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the JAAA office on Wednesday, said they would act in the best interest of all.
“Simply, we are guided by this (World Athletics transfer of allegiance regulation) as well as discussions we have from time to time with our world governing body, World Athletics.
“And simply, when the document comes to us, we will act in the best interest of all concerned.”
It has been rumoured that the Jamaicans who have switched allegiance to Türkiye had a sign-on fee of US$500,000 and will be earning up to US$40,000 per month.
But according to Gayle, there is more sinister work at play than just the reported offer on the table.
“Suffice to say that the sport is being handcuffed by a particular group of stakeholders, and that is the question you should ask these groups of stakeholders who are in clear dialouge with these athletes -why they would have chosen the route they have chosen.
“I guarantee that every member in this group (JAAA executive), every one of us has excellent rapport with the athletes. However, there is a specific group that manages these athletes and the question that you ask may be best posed to them. The groups are agents and coaches (and they handcuff the JAAA) in many respects,” he commented.
English (US) ·