media_artricles :: 2013

Reigning UWI Half-Marathon female champ tests positive

President of the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA), Ephraim Serrette has condemned the findings of this year’s UWI-SPEC International Half-Marathon women’s winner, American Mary Akor, positive test for a banned substance, which was announced by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on Wednesday.

Akor, who dethroned 2012 winner and national distance runner Tonya Nero, tested positive for clenbuterol. Clenbuterol is an anabolic agent used to treat breathing disorders such as asthma. The 37-year-old returned a positive test of an in-competition urine sample collected on December 16, 2012, at the Maraton Gobernador in Mexicali, Baja California. She has received a two-year suspension, which began on May 6, 2013, the date the laboratory provided notice of the positive sample to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The IAAF, who collected the sample, referred the case to USADA for results management as Akor is a US athlete. She has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained between December 6, 2012, the date her sample was collected, and November 5, 2013, the day she accepted her sanction, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.

The UWI-SPEC International Half-Marathon title holder is expected to return her trophy to event organisers, since she won this race on October 27, 2013.

According to Serrette, the NAAA will do all in its power to advise and guide the event’s organisers in the right direction towards properly and transparently handling this situation. He revealed that the NAAA’s role in the UWI Marathon was merely the sanctioning of the race and that all tests, if any, were to be done by event directors.

“We will guide the organisers accordingly,” said Serrette. “We will write the IAAF to make sure whatever decisions are made by the organisers are in line with the world governing body and fair. It is expected that Akor would have to return her winnings from the event as well but that’s up to the hosts. We’ll be looking at this matter closely even though it’s no fault of the NAAA. We always advise persons hosting events to test athletes before competition.”

At the event just under two months ago, Akor was first to cross the finish in one hour, 21 minutes and 11 seconds. She finished ahead of 2012 champion Nero, who clocked one hour, 21 minutes and 29 seconds.

Serrette also noted that several of Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign-based athletes have been tested abroad by the IAAF this year. He stated that due to budgetary constraints over the 2013 season, the NAAA was not able to conduct testing on their prime athletes. However, he said that they relied on the accurate testing done by the IAAF at college meets in the US and abroad, where several of this nation’s top athletes reside and go to school.

“And it was because of funding that Kelly-Ann Baptiste was found positive by the IAAF and not NAAA. We relied on their similar and accurate testing methods because we did not have the funds,” he added.

Serrette admitted that her two-year suspension does not rule out Akor returning to TT to compete in the distant future. He reiterated that while she will be out of local and international competition for the next two years, Akor can bounce back from this negative light shed on her illustrious career.

“I don’t think she should be banned or anything from competing here after her suspension is complete. Athletes should not be branded in that way. Once she serves her suspension she can compete as usual after. I don’t see a reason why she should be banned. That would however be a decision of the event organisers,” he concluded.

Top