Here’s Why Jamaica’s Women’s U20 4x100m Relay Team World Record Was Denied… JAAA Will Appeal

Yardhype Staff WriterJune 2, 2022

The 42.58 seconds world record time that was set by Serena Cole, Brianna Lyston, Tia and Tina Clayton of Jamaica’s Women’s U20 4x100m relay team at the Carifta Games on April 17, 2022, will not be ratified by the track and field governing body, World Athletics.

According to the World Athletics competition rules, “an athlete (or athletes in the case of a relay event) who sets a World Record must submit to doping control at immediately after the end of the event, where the athlete has broken or equaled a World Record”.

In a statement, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) disclosed that the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), the body responsible for performing anti-doping tests on athletes on behalf of the Association did not follow the specific guidelines and protocols which has resulted in the world record time by the athletes not being honoured by the World Athletics.

Reportedly, Tina Clayton was the only athlete on the team who was not drug tested after the completion of the race. This was confirmed by the Chairman of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), Alexander Williams who stated that Clayton was tested the day before on April 16, however, took full responsibility for the error made in failing to test her after the team had set a new world record time.

Nonetheless, the world record time of 43.27 seconds still remains that was set by Jamaica’s Under-20 Women’s 4x100m in Nairobi, Kenya in August of 2021.

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) plans to appeal the decision made by the World Athletics.

See reactions to the news below.

Yardhype Staff WriterJune 2, 2022