Hue 'shocked and devastated'

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

The manager of a "shocked and devastated" Jermaine Hue could seek legal redress after the Jamaican international midfielder was banned for nine months by the FIFA Disciplinary Panel following an anti-doping rule violation.

FIFA announced that Hue had failed a drug test following Jamaica's 2-0 loss to Honduras in their CONCACAF FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Tegucigalpa on June 11. Team doctor Carlton Fraser received a four-year ban from all domestic, international, friendly and official matches for four years for administering the banned substance Dexamethasone to the midfielder.

"Jermaine (Hue) is shocked and devastated," said the Harbour View Football Club (HVFC) talisman's manager and uncle Michael Hue. "When he heard the news, he was actually in training because he was hoping to be able to play in a short time.

"He is very disappointed in the nine-month ban. It will take time for him to come back to his normal self, but there is a strong family support," added the older Hue.

For the time being, the Hues expect to meet with the HVFC hierarchy and their lawyers in the coming days to determine their next move, as they contemplate an appeal and perhaps a bit more.

"He is looking at the result, soaking it in and what we are actually doing now, we are going to look at the transcript in terms of what FIFA has said and see what can be done as it relates to an appeal. We will be sitting with the lawyers and the executive of the HVFC to see what's the process in terms of an appeal," Michael Hue said.

"We first of all have to meet with the lawyers before we make any move. We have to exhaust the appeal process - once that is available, before we can think of anything else."

However, the player's manager, who believes that the midfielder will return to play once his ban expires, is now concerned that the midfielder is now left with a damaged reputation and no means to support his family and himself due to no fault of his own. He is also hoping to be able to discuss the matter with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

Complained about fatigue

"In terms of the verdict, a nine-month ban for the player; if you remember they had three matches in a short space of time ... Jermaine went to Honduras and complained about fatigue and was given the medication by the JFF's team doctor ... the doctor is employed to the football federation and it could have happened to any of the players there," Michael Hue said.

"I was just wondering that with this doctor being an employee of the federation, what would the federation's stance be?

"Jermaine Hue will now have to join the unemployment line. Who is going to compensate Jermaine Hue for the nine months that he is going to be without a job?"

He has kids to send to school, a family to support, and bills to pay like any normal person. I'm hoping that in the coming days we will get a chance to raise these in a meeting, and I don't speak for the Harbour View Football Club, but I know that they would also raise the question with the loss of their marquee player," added Michael Hue.

"If the doctor was in the employment of the federation then he was responsible for all the players on tour, and so the JFF, who was instrumental in getting the process expedited, must now come into question in terms of the way forward as it relates to Jermaine not being able to earn," he further noted.

Jermaine Hue has featured in 42 matches for Jamaica's senior team, scoring 12 goals.