Sport
Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to lead team Jamaica in Moscow
Jamaica athletes, Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. PHOTO/Bryan Cummings/Jamaica Observer
(Reuters) – Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce headline a Jamaican world athletics championships squad that will come under intense scrutiny in Moscow following several positive doping tests by some of the country’s athletes.
Five athletes, including Olympic gold medallists Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, tested positive for banned substances at the island-nation’s national championships in June and face disciplinary hearings.
All five have denied knowingly taking banned substances.
Neither Powell nor Simpson, both of whom tested positive for the stimulant oxilophrine, were included in the squad named by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) on Monday for the August 10-18 championships in the Russian capital.
Jamaican officials did not indicate what event the athletes were likely to run in Moscow but Nesta Carter is expected to join Usain Bolt, Nickel Ashmeade and Kemar Bailey-Cole in the 100m in the absence of injured world champion Yohan Blake.
The 22-member male squad also includes Olympic 200m bronze medallist Warren Weir.
Former Commonwealth Games champion Sherri-Ann Brooks, who was fourth at the Jamaican trials in June, is expected to take the place of Simpson in the women’s 100m.
Wild card holder and 2009 world champion Fraser-Pryce, Kerron Stewart and Schillonie Calvert will be the other entrants in the blue riband event.
London Olympics bronze medallist Hansle Parchment, who injured his ankle at the Jamaica trials, takes his place in the 110 hurdles along with Andrew Riley and Dwight Thomas.
Team Members
Men: Nickel Ashmeade, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Usain Bolt, Nesta Carter, Warren Weir, Jason Livermore, Javere Bell, Javon Francis, Omar Johnson, Hansle Parchment, Andrew Riley, Dwight Thomas, Leford Green, Isa Phillips, Annsert Whyte, Damar Forbes, Raymond Brown, Odayne Richards, Oshaine Bailey, Akheem Gauntlett, Rusheen Mcdonald, Edino Steele
Women: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Schillonie Calvert, Kerron Stewart, Patricia Hall, Anneisha Mclaughlin, Stephanie McPherson, Novlene Williams-Mills, Natoya Goule, Andrea Bliss, Danielle Williams, Shermaine Williams, Danielle Dowie, Kaliese Spencer, Ristananna Tracey, Nickiesha Wilson, Francine Simpson, Kimberly Williams, Natasha Morrison, Carrie Russell, Christine Day, Anastasia Le-roy, Rosemarie Whyte.