Trinidad’s NAAA confirms Baptiste’s withdrawal from World Champs for doping
MOSCOW, Russia (CMC) – The President of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA), Ephraim Serrette has confirmed that the withdrawal of Kelly-Ann Baptiste from the 14th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was related to a doping violation.
In a statement issued to the media in Moscow on Monday, Serrette officially confirmed the withdrawal of both Baptiste and Semoy Hackett from the Championships which began on the weekend.
“The National Association of Athletics Administrations wishes to confirm the withdrawal of athletes Ms Kelly Ann Baptiste and Ms Semoy Hackett from participation in the 2013 edition of the IAAF World Championships being held in Moscow, Russia,” the statement read.
“The absence of both athletes is related to doping matters of varying degrees and complexity. In the case of Ms Baptiste this Association was notified on Thursday 8th August by the IAAF and the results management process is currently underway and as a result, any further comment at this stage would be premature and inappropriate.”
The statement added: “In the case of Ms Hackett, the IAAF has appealed the recent decision of the NAAA’s Disciplinary Panel to exonerate Ms Hackett and has also re-suspended her pending the appeal which is to be heard before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.”
Serrette, who is among officials attending the Championships in Moscow, said that the NAAA remains committed “to drug free sport and is confident that the legal process regarding both athletes will take its due course.”