NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bahamian government has approved $80,000 for distribution to several track and field athletes whose medal status in their respective competitions has been elevated due to the drug disqualifications of their competitors.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Desmond Bannister said as a result of the admission by track and field athlete Marion Jones that she had used performing enhancing drugs leading up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and beyond, the International Olympic Committee and the International Association of Athletics Federations disqualified her performances at several international major competitions.
Debbie Ferguson, who placed second in the 200 metres at the 2001 Edmonton World Championships will now get the gold medal, Mr. Bannister explained during a press conference at his Thompson Boulevard office.
Chandra Sturrup, who also participated in the world championships, will receive the bronze medal in the 100 metres, he noted.
“It is also anticipated that Bahamian Pauline Davis Thompson ought to be awarded the gold medal for her performance in the 200 metres at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia,” Mr. Bannister said.
As a result of disqualification of Kellie White due to her admitted drug use, Bahamian Chandra Sturrup has also been elevated to the bronze medal in the 100 metres for her performance at the World Championships in Paris in 2003.
Additionally, the Minister explained that the American men’s 4×400 metre relay team at the Sydney Australia Olympic Games has been disqualified due to admitted drug use by team members.
He said it is anticipated that the Bahamian men’s relay team consisting of Chris Brown, Tim Munnings, Troy McIntosh, Carl Oliver and Avard Moncur will at some stage be elevated to Olympic bronze medallists.
Laverne Eve and Jackie Edwards also advanced to finalists in field event athletes at the Helsinki 2005 World Championships.
“The Government of The Bahamas,” Mr. Bannister said, “recognises that our athletes have competed fairly at the highest levels of international competition without resorting to using performance enhancing drugs and that accordingly they should be appropriately rewarded in accordance with the established provisions of the sports policy.”
He explained that each athlete is in the process of receiving a sum of money, which represents the difference between the funds they were given initially and what they should have received for either moving to a more prominent medal position or moving to a medal standing.
