Shelly-Ann Fraser

Bruce James, president of MVP Track Club, is expressing optimism that reigning Olympic and world 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser, will be exonerated by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA).

In an interview yesterday, hours after it became public that Fraser had tested positive for a non-performance enhancing drug, James said that given the fact that the findings of the drug test did not return a banned substance, but rather a failure on the part of Fraser to declare that she was taking dental medication, he was cautiously optimistic that following a hearing by the JAAA she would be cleared to resume her career.

no issue

"Our understanding was that since it was not a performance enhancing substance that she should continue competing as before as there was no issue with a performance enhancing substance. As a result we do not expect a ban to result from this," said James, who along with Fraser's coach, Stephen Francis, form the backbone of MVP.

Fraser tested positive for a non-performance enhancing drug at the second International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) Diamond League meet in Shanghai, China, in May.

The drug, which is a variant of Oxycodone, a painkiller, is not on the IAAF list of performance enhancing drugs, but is on their list of non-performance enhancing substances, which each athlete must declare if he or she is taking prior to competing in a meet.

Bruce James

According to James, Fraser complained of pain at the Shanghai meet after undergoing a dental procedure earlier in the month, and the organisers of the meet gave her the medication. She, however, did not put the medication on the meet's drug-testing form, which is a pre-requisite for IAAF sanctioned meets.

"The pain medication that she took just before running that eased the pain enough for her to be able to compete though not a performance enhancing drug and not a masking agent, is on the list of drugs that if you are going to take it you need to declare," said James.

"We now have to go through a procedure where she will now have a hearing here in Jamaica that is to be organised by the JAAA, and once that hearing is held they will make a recommendation as to whether she is exonerated, or what form of sanction is to be taken," he added.

Fraser placed second in the 100m race at the Shanghai meet in 11.29 seconds behind American Carmelita Jeter, who won in 11.09.

Meanwhile, Howard Aris, president of the JAAA, said he was aware of the IAAF findings, however, due to a lack of information he was not prepared to make a comment at this time.

"Once there is an ongoing case we cannot comment on it, and in any event the person who normally speaks on these things on behalf of the JAAA, Dr Warren Blake, is not here. He is off the island," declared Aries.

"I know some things and I don't know other things. Things are moving very fast and it would be irresponsible of me to make a statement at this time. But we are reviewing the situation and will be making an official statement shortly," he added.