By Neto Baptiste
The Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA) has suspended a coach and another official pending the outcome of a review into protocol breaches that occurred at a recent international meet in Costa Rica.
Although the release did not name the officials on suspension and what protocols were apparently breached, Observer media was able to ascertain that coach Kesswin Anthony and Chef de Mission to the NACAC U18 and U23 Track and Field Championships, Joanne Small, are the two suspended officials.
Reports are suggesting that a female athlete fell asleep in the coach’s room during the meet. Since then, there have been widespread calls for an investigation.
According to the recent release: “At a meeting held on 12 September 2023 and at a subsequent meeting held on the 5th October 2023, the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association Executive after careful deliberation has determined that article 12 section one of the constitution was breached by two of its members”.
The release went on to add that “the parties involved are suspended from all activities of the association with immediate effect, pending a review of the breach by the disciplinary committee”.
Observer media reached out to the officials for comment but both refused to speak on the matter. Small, however, indicated at the time of being contacted by Observer that she had not officially been informed of the suspension.
President of the Athletics Association, Everton Cornelius, also withheld comments on the matter. No timeline was placed on when the disciplinary committee may conclude its review.
Last week, the Antigua and Barbuda National Olympic Committee (ABNOC) wrote to Cornelius on allegations of the breach, threatening the body with suspension if it fails to respond within a specified timeframe.
In a press release dated October 2, the NOC gave the association 72 hours from receipt of its letter to provide them with an official report detailing the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident in which an athlete would have ‘fallen asleep’ in a coach’s room.
It is unclear as to whether or not the association has provided the NOC with the requested update on the matter.
