STEPHEN Francis of the powerful MVP track club believes the heads of Ludlow Watts and Garth Gayle, both part of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), should roll following the latest debacle that prevented Nesta Carter from participating the World Championships which started here on Friday, local time.

“I have no doubt, something has to happen,” Francis told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

“I wouldn’t blame Dr Blake (president of the JAAA) I think the JAAA has been taken from him, maybe because he doesn’t want to fight the status quo or maybe because he is not the kind of personality to impose himself on the treasurer and the secretary,” Francis reasoned.

“I don’t think he has much power in the JAAA, and its all been done by Mr Watts and Mr Gayle who have been there before him,” said Francis.

Carter, an MVP athlete, finished fourth at the Jamaica Senior Championship and missed out on an automatic spot on the World Championship. However, his luck seemed to have turned as he was called in to replace an injured Kemar Bailey-Cole.

But his joy was short-lived as, days before the 100m event started, it was revealed that the JAAA had not entered him as a reserve athlete, hence he could not fill that spot made vacant by the injured Bailey-Cole.

“It is extreme carelessness, extreme incompetence. A lot of people think it’s an attempt to sabotage MVP, but I don’t believe so. It’s just carelessness and incompetence of the highest order,” said Francis.

Up to Friday the JAAA were feverishly trying to get the IAAF to overturn their decision, but Francis said he knew Carter was out from August 10 once the provisional list was sent to the world ruling body. The appeal launched by the JAAA was officially turned down yesterday.

“The only way the IAAF can get him through is by giving him a wild card. I know there was no way he can compete,” said Francis.

“It is not surprising given the people involved. When we hear at Champs time about schools not entering because the entries are not on time, the entry form not filled out correctly, we all laugh and say how those people can be so stupid and careless. But we know where they’re getting it from… their federation,” Francis pointed out.

According to Francis, it should be the coaches and the technical committee who should be filling out these forms.

“But the JAAA’s is an organisation where the people at the top hoard and hog everything. They take all the responsibility for themselves and dish it out in dribs and drabs to their subjects. The coaches have stood up and taken this for years and years. I guess because they feel lucky to be honoured by trips abroad,” he pointed out.

“It is the simplest thing in the world. If you go and look at the difference between the entry form that the US people fill out or the British, or whoever it is, they fill out all the spaces once you are qualified, and especially in the events like the 100s, the 400s and the 200s where, because of the relays, you have people for the spot,” said Francis.

“It is unimaginable playing with people’s life. You don’t fund these people, so the very least you can do is ensure that the thing is done right,” said a livid Francis.

“The IAAF cannot make an exception because it would lead to problems in the future. It just can’t be done. This is the kind of incompetence we expect,” he reiterated.