PARIS, France: Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president Christopher Samuda has denied a report that the association will refuse to accredit shot putter Danniel Thomas-Dodd for future Olympic Games unless she retracts her statements about the lack of support for field events.
After failing to qualify for the women’s shot-put final at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, Thomas-Dodd, a nine-time national champion, attributed her performance to the absence of her coach and husband, Shane Dodd, from the athletes’ village and training ground.
Thomas-Dodd expressed her frustration, explaining that her husband was not accredited as a personal trainer and therefore could not access the training facilities to assist her.
She managed a best throw of 18.12m in the preliminary round at the Stade de France, falling short of the 19.15m automatic qualifying mark and missing the top 12 for the final.
Thomas-Dodd also criticised the support for field event athletes in Jamaica, stating that field events do not receive adequate backing.
A local radio reporter alleged that he had been informed that Thomas-Dodd would not be accredited for future Olympic Games unless she retracted her statements.
In response, Samuda clarified, “I indicated when the question was asked if she would be able to access the Olympic solidarity scholarship, and I said certainly. There is absolutely no reason why she would be banned. Vindictiveness is not in the vocabulary of myself and the JOA.”
Samuda’s comments followed a ceremony where three Jamaican Olympians were presented with upgraded medals from previous Games due to disqualifications of other athletes.
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