Bodybuilding PRO: Athletes’ actions make it difficult for everyone

Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Antigua & Barbuda Amateur Bodybuilding & Weightlifting Federation (ABABWF), Kimberly Ephraim, believes the actions of some athletes make it difficult for others who may be seeking assistance from corporate Antigua.
Ephraim who competes in the bikini segment of the national championships was, at the time, responding to questions related to the reported suspension of one former champion, Orson Martin, and the decision by reigning champion, Kenny Jacobs, to withdraw from the country’s team to the now cancelled Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Championships.
“The next time I need to go out and ask a corporate sponsor to assist me, everything they know or hear of the sport affects their decision as to whether they want to give this person and it’s essentially giving money so it’s a question of do they want to give this person of their company or do I want to give it somewhere else so it doesn’t just affect one person, it affect everybody down the line,” she said. 
Martin has reportedly been suspended for one year for reasons still unknown while Jacobs pulled out of the team following concerned over the process involved in acquiring a Mexican visa.
Ephraim said that, as an athlete, she would not appreciate the federation going public with what she considers a private matter.
“If I were in Kenny and Orson’s shoes I do not know I would appreciate anyone who represents the executive or anyone who represents a member coming on air to discuss or scrutinise my actions, mistakes or whatever my disciplinary thing is. I don’t know if I would appreciate it and I am being frank,” she said.
Asked whether or not Martin was accorded a hearing, Ephraim said she was not aware, and she suggested that if the athlete sees it fit, he could speak with the media on the matter.
“I would not have been part of that process so I really can’t say but what I can say is that whatever the disciplinary action was …  it’s not related to CAC and the team, it’s much more than that. It seems as if you guys have a very good relationship [with Orson] so I would expect you to reach out to him,” the PRO said.
“I can safely say that I don’t feel the need to have to divulge the details of his disciplinary letter publicly, that is a matter between the federation and the athlete but if, for whatever reason, Orson decides to showcase whatever then that is totally up to him,” she added.
The CAC Championships, which was slated to start September 28 in Mexico, has been cancelled owing to the recent seismic activity in that country and the recent passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria.