Athletics
JAMAICA SELECT WILLIAMS FOR IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DESPITE DRUGS CASE
BY DAN PALMER
Jamaica have selected teenage sprinter Briana Williams for the upcoming International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships, despite ongoing proceedings over a failed drugs test.
The 17-year-old will face a doping hearing from September 23, just four days before the start of the World Championships in Doha.
It was thought there would not be enough time for Williams to compete in Qatar’s capital, even if she was cleared, but the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has opted to name her in their squad.
“The window is very tight but we firmly believe in the principle of innocence until proven guilty and for us not to select her or put her on the team would be punishing her even before she has been found guilty,” JAAA President Dr Warren Blake said to Loop Jamaica.
“If it happens that the independent hearing panel finds that she is culpable or guilty then she won’t be on the team.
“If she is cleared then she is on the team.”
Williams has been selected for both the 100 metres and 4x100m relay.
It was hoped her hearing with the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (IADP) would be expedited but this has not proved possible.
She is the latest sprint star to emerge from the Caribbean country’s production line and is the reigning world under-20 champion over both 100m and 200m.
The two-time Pan American under-20 gold medallist was made aware of a positive result on July 25 after she failed for banned substance hydrochlorothiazide, a medication normally used to treat high blood pressure.
Emir Crowne, who is representing Williams in the case, claims a contaminated over-the-counter cold and flu medication is the cause of the failure.
It has also been reported that Williams declared the medication on her doping control form while being tested by Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) officials.
Williams travelled to Lima for the Pan American Games last month but was forced to withdraw when news of the failure emerged.
She has a personal best of 10.94sec over 100m from the Jamaican Championships in June, which was enough to qualify for Doha.
IADP chairman Kent Gammon will lead proceedings alongside Dr Marjorie Vassell and Denise Forrest.
JADCO will be represented by Ian Wilkinson.
Williams is coached by Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago, the men’s 100m Olympic silver medallist at Sydney 2000.
In 2001, Boldon tested positive for the stimulant ephedrine but was only given a warning as the substance can be found in many over-the-counter remedies.
-insidethegames
Athletics
James, Shambaz win Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10m Race
BY DAPO SOTUMINU
Nigeria’s Francis James and Blessing Shambaz yesterday emerged winners of the 2nd Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10km Race to go home with the winners prize money of $1,000 in a race that was officially flagged off by the First vice president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Chief Solomon Ogba, and supported by Mr. Nadin Khan, the president of the World Ultra Running.
James won the men’s race finishing at 30minutes 11seconds to beat all opponents to consolidate on his victory in Abuja when he finished second best in the half marathon held in the Federal Capital Territory middle of the year.
James also emerged the Nigeria’s winner of the World class half marathon.
It will be recalled that James at his last major race in Abuja finished second place in a national half marathon race. He stressed that he used that race to prepare for the Lotus Bank Abeokuta Race and he was very happy winning the race.
He stressed that, the victory at Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10m Race has given him the confidence to do better in others races coming up in Nigeria and its an indication, that he’s very close to making history for Nigeria in subsequent marathon races. He added that, Nigerian runners will pull surprise in the others races not minding the attendance of the East Africans.
In second place for the men’s race is Gyang Raymond at a time of 30 minutes 14 seconds. Gyang got $750 for his effort. While the third place winner is Gyang David Boyi at 30 minutes 54 seconds. Boyi got a cash prize of $500.
In the women 10km race, the runners up that placed second was Daylop Patience at a time of 36minutes 98.28seconds to keep her position in last year’s edition. She got $750.
Third place winner is Agofure Charity at 37minutes 88 seconds.She got $500.
The overall 10km also saw the race by special athletes.
The route of the Lotus Bank Abeokuta Race wore a very active look this morning with the active presence of Febbs table water, a part sponsor of the event.
The volunteers on each points on the route all had Febbs Water on their hands ready to hand them over the runners. The organisers decorated all the runners that crossed the finish line with gold medals, this added to the fanfare and celebrations at the Alake Palace finish line of the race.
Athletics
Diamond League raise 2025 prize money to over $9 million
The Diamond League will increase its prize money to more than $9 million in 2025, the highest in the history of the series, the organisers have said.
Athletes will make a total of $18 million, with top athletes also receiving promotional fees. Male and female athletes will be paid at the same rate, the Diamond League said in a statement.
“The new total is almost a third higher than the sum paid during the pandemic-affected period of 2021-2024,” the statement said, adding that more will be invested in the athletes’ travel, transport, accommodation, medical and physio services.
Each of the 14 Diamond League meets of the 2025 regular season, scheduled to kick off in April, will award a total prize money of $500,000, with the final in August offering $2.24 million.
“The total prize money per discipline will be between $30,000 and $50,000 at the series meetings and between $60,000 and $100,000 at the final,” the statement added.
The Diamond League’s 2024 season concluded in Brussels last week, with Zurich set to host the 2025 final.
The news comes after World Athletics ended a 128-year tradition by paying Olympic champions at the Paris Games $50,000 each and as rival track events try to muscle in on the circuit long seen as the standard-bearer for professional athletics.
Retired American sprinting great Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track will offer prize money ranging from $100,000 for the winner to $10,000 for the eighth-place finisher at each of four “slams” when the league launches next year.
It will distribute a total of $12.6 million in prize money in 2025.
“In a league of our own,” Grand Slam Track wrote in a post on X, opens new tab on Wednesday, with a breakdown of their prize money.
-Reuters
Athletics
Record 6000 runners register for 2nd Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10km Run
A record 6,000 runners, local and international from across the African continent and Nigeria have registered for the second edition of the Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10km Run slated for September 28, 2024, as the organisers, Nilayo Sports Management Limited guns for a bronze label status for the race.
The Chief Operating Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Ebidowie Oweifie, noted that the theme of this year’s edition of the Abeokuta 10km Race titled ‘For Greatness’ out is out to commemorate the birthday anniversary of the Egba paramount ruler, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo 111, the 10km Run will flag off at Iyana Oloke at 6am and finish at The Alake Palace, Abeokuta.
Kenya’s Peter Nwaniki is the men’s race defending champion at a time of 28 minutes 14 seconds, while Shamila Kipsirir also of Kenya is the women’s defending champion.
Nigeria’s race men’s defending champion is Francis James at 31minutes 08seconds, while the women’s defending champion is Patience Daylop at 36 minutes 31 seconds.
The second edition of Abeokuta10km Race will be sponsored by Lotus Bank, FEBBS Premium Water, Fatgbems Petroleum Limited and Cash Token.
-
AFCON1 week ago
Nigeria confirms Eguavoen as Super Eagles head coach
-
International Football4 days ago
Why FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o
-
Governing Bodies1 week ago
CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of ‘OLA’ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball
-
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL1 week ago
Justin Madugu takes over from Waldrum as Super Falcons coach
-
CAF Super Cup1 week ago
Ahly and Zamalek set for epic CAF Super Cup showdown in Riyadh
-
Governing Bodies1 week ago
Zimbabwean set to become first African and woman president of IOC
-
CHAN1 week ago
CAF confirms Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as CHAN 2024 Hosts
-
World Cup1 week ago
For World Cup sake, Saudi set to welcome Lesbians and gays