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Kaliese Spencer, the 2014 Commonwealth Games 400 meters hurdles champion, has been cleared of an anti-doping rule violation by an independent disciplinary panel. The Jamaican athlete is now free to resume competing immediately.
Spencer was facing a possible ban of four years on charges that she evaded or refused a drug test on April 27 2016 at her training base.
The written decision of the panel reads the independent anti-doping disciplinary panel is not persuaded to the standard of proof on the evidence presented that the athlete, Kaliese Spencer, evaded a sample collection pursuant to article 2.3 of the 2015 Anti-Doping Rules. It was ruled by the three-member panel that the athlete in the circumstances did not commit an anti-doping violation to article 2.3 and thus no sanction can be imposed by the independent anti-doping disciplinary panel on the athlete.
Panel chairman, Kent Gammon, said the deciding factor was the equivocation that the athlete was properly notified after the anti-doping violation and the non-compliance with article 5.0 of international standard testing of WADA. It was further decided by the panel that the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) that brought the charges was unable to prove that the 30-year-old athlete had been properly notified under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules that she was required for testing. The panel awarded Spencer costs.
The decision means Spencer, the 2009 world championship 4x400m relay silver medalist can now compete in Jamaica’s National Senior Championship (June 22-25) that will be used to select the Caribbean island’s team for the August 4-13 World Championships in London.
American Paul Greene, who represented Spencer, said he is elated for Kaliese and added this have been a very trying three months for her. Greene also commented that the case should have never been brought in his opinion and also remarked the provisional suspension should have never have imposed because there was no evidence she did anything wrong and the decision vindicated her and proved to Jamaica that Kaliese is innocent and never did anything wrong. Greene went on to comment that he thinks it is absolutely ridiculous that JADCO actually brought this case and added that hopefully next time they will think twice before bringing a case without evidence.
Spencer's manager Anderson said he was happy that Spencer had been cleared to compete again and that she will be ready for the national trials next week. Anderson also remarked Spencer had no ill will towards JADCO and also commented that Kaliese is a very strong person and she has dealt with it with calm and humility. The manager added Spencer was always confident that with time things would work out itself, and he is happy that she is able to go back on the track and compete.
The Jamaican track and field athlete who specializes in the 400 meters hurdles was the 2006 World Junior champion. Spencer had her first hurdles success at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics wherein she won the junior 400 m hurdles title with a personal best run of 55.11 seconds.