Athletics: Dope results rock Jamaica

Five Jamacian athletes have tested positive for doping, although one report suggests none of the nation's premier sprinters is among the group.

Track's governing body confirmed yesterday it received paperwork about the tests from the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission. IAAF spokesman Nick Davies did not identify the athletes or the drug.

Herb Elliott, of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission, told Radio Jamaica four men and one woman had been told of the results and will have an opportunity to contest them. They tested positive at last month's national championships and all were chosen for the 46-member team representing Jamaica at next month's world championships in Berlin.

The Jamaica Observer, citing unidentified sources, said they did not include any of the top sprinters. The newspaper reported there were two members of the men's 4x100m relay team, two on the men's 4x400m relay and a female 4x100m relay runner.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt said he was not concerned.

"As long as I'm clean I'm just going forward," Bolt said after winning the 100m at the London Grand Prix. "It's sad for the sport because the sport was getting on so well. I was trying to bring it back. This is probably a step backwards because people start questioning everybody, especially from Jamaica.

"For me, it doesn't matter because I will be going out there, day after day, doing my best. I get tested all the time. It shows that people get tested and they get caught if they are on drugs."

Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has called a meeting with top athletics officials. Success in athletics is a source of national pride in the Caribbean nation whose sprinters dominated the Beijing Olympics. However, Jamaica came under fire after Bolt's success in Beijing for not having a credible testing programme.

Jamaican sprinter Julien Dunkley was dropped from the team a year ago after testing positive for the banned drug Boldenone. Meanwhile, Bolt faced a 1.7m headwind but cruised home ahead of 19-year-old compatriot Yohan Blake (10.11s) in London. Blake, who ran 9.93s last week, is the latest sprinter to roll off the Jamaican production line.