Step by step, says Gayle

“The public does not manage the sport.”

That was the firm message from Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle amid public scrutiny over Jabari Matheson competing in four 400-metre races within 36 hours at the recent World Athletics U20 Championships.

Matheson’s demanding schedule, which included the men’s 400m and mixed 4x400m relay events, has sparked debate about athlete welfare.

However, Gayle said the JAAA will not make decisions based on public ‘noise’, but will instead review reports from the team’s management, coaching and medical staff.

He explained that it is customary for the association to receive reports after each championship, and said it would follow established protocol in reviewing the situation to determine whether any further action is required.

“We have gotten all reports. It’s a customary requirement when our national teams travel. The manager, the coaches, the medical persons are required to present and provide reports,” Gayle said.

“We are going to manage it, as is our mandate by World Athletics to take a look at it, because it’s very important that we look at all that could have happened and take from the evidence that we would have gotten.”

Despite questions surrounding the matter, Gayle said the association would not be pressured into making hasty decisions.

He said it was important to first establish the facts to ensure the best decision is made.

“We are going through step by step to take a careful analytical look at the thing and act accordingly,” he said.

“What might be big noise in the public when we read the reports, may not be so. We have to be very careful and mindful in how we manage this, because it’s important that we take all the necessary things in place and to ensure we make the right decisions.”

NO FORMAL COMPLAINT

While the JAAA conducts its review, Gayle insisted the association has not received any formal complaint regarding the matter from Matheson or any member of the national team.

He also confirmed that the JAAA has not spoken directly with Matheson, saying that step has not been necessary at this stage, but could be taken if the review determines it is required.

“We can’t go down the route of faults. That’s not the remit of the JAAA and so, as I said, repeatedly, we will take our time to look at all that is being said,” Gayle explained.

“Surprisingly, it has been said in the public domain, but nothing has been written to the JAAA, and I really want to make that point,” he continued.

“Suffice to say, the JAAA have not yet received any formal complaint. What we are seeing, which has been the norm of recent times, is that persons who are engaged or who are wearing national colours and agree to represent the country tend to go into the public.”

While reports from such reviews are typically treated as an internal matter by the JAAA, Gayle has not ruled out announcing the findings, given the public attention surrounding the issue.

However, he stopped short of committing to making the review’s findings public.

“You’re asking me to break a tradition, but I have been known to make decisions on what is best for all concerned, and so that’s what we will do in this particular situation.”

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com