Shelly-Ann Fraser eligible for London Olympics
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 09:26
Shelly-Ann FraserJamaican fans of sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser, will be overjoyed to know that the IOC has officially confirmed to trackalerts.com, that she’ll be able to defend her Olympic 100m title in London, England, in the year 2012.
Since Tuesday when news broke of LaShawn Merritt’s 21-month doping ban, followed by an official IAAF statement that he’ll miss the London Olympic Games, agitation arose locally, about Fraser’s own eligibility.
On July 7th, World and Olympic Champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser, was banned for six months by the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF), for using the non-performance enhancing drug Oxycodone.
Fraser, who at that time was said to be suffering excruciating pains from a recent dental procedure, used the medication to quell pains after the pain killer the meet officials gave her, proved ineffective.
This incident happened before she participated in the Shanghai Diamond League track meet, in May of this year.
However, she is now eligible to return to competition on January 7, 2011.
It was behind Merritt’s exclusion from the London Olympics this week and concerns being raised in the Jamaican community, that trackalerts.com, - your leading source for T&F information - decided to seek out clarification from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on Shelly-Ann Fraser’s status.
According to the IOC, many misinterpreted the rule.
In their reply to TA, the IOC stated: “Each doping case is of course different and subject to potential legal procedures, but the IOC’s rules, which came into force just before Beijing in July 2008, are clear: The Osaka rule states very clearly that any athlete sanctioned for more than six months will be banned from participation in the next edition of the Games.”
“This rule is still valid and applies to all athletes. So in the case of Shelly-Ann Fraser, who was banned for six months and no longer, the Osaka rule does not apply and she is eligible for the London Games should she qualify.”
By Anthony Foster, trackalerts.com