THE agent of Jamaican quarter-miler Bobby Gaye-Wilkins has denied knowledge of his athlete’s reported failure of a drug test at the 13th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar in March.

Oneil Wright, who has been representing Wilkins since early 2009, yesterday told the Observer that he had not been notified by the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) about any adverse analytical finding.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Wright said from the United States yesterday.

By virtue ot its impeccable sources, this newspaper reported in yesterday’s edition that 21-year-old Wilkins was the Jamaican who returned a positive finding for both her ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples for a prohibited substance at the World Indoor Championships, where she was a member of the nation’s bronze medal-winning 4x400m relay team in Doha. The name and type of prohibited substance is still not known.

“It sounds like you (reporter) know more than us. The JAAA has not contacted me about the information that you have published,” Wright said. Wilkins was also a semi-finalist in the 400m in Doha.

Quizzed as to whether he had knowledge of a positive for either the ‘A’ or ‘B’ samples, the agent replied: “The people who are supposed to contact me is the JAAA and they have not contacted me about any findings. I have no more comment,” Wright said.

President of the JAAA Howard Aris is yet to confirm whether a member of Jamaica’s team to Doha returned an adverse analytical finding.

Second vice-president of the JAAA, Dr Warren Blake, who served as team leader and doctor for Jamaica’s team to Doha, has also told the Observer he could not confirm any adverse analytical finding concerning any Jamaican athlete coming out of the championships.

Jamaica won two medals at the World Indoor Championships — gold in the women’s 60m and bronze in the 4×400.

Adverse analytical finding refers to the “presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers (including elevated quantities of endogenous substances) or evidence of the use of a prohibited method”, as outlined in the 2010-2011 IAAF’s Competition Rules book.

In accordance with the IAAF Anti-Doping process, after the “B” sample is returned and any follow-up investigation is carried out, the athlete in question shall be afforded an opportunity, either directly or through his National Federation, within a time limit set by the IAAF to provide an explanation in response to the anti-doping rule violation asserted.

Subsequent to receiving the result of the ‘B’ sample, the athlete has the right to request a hearing.

“If a hearing is requested by an athlete, it shall be convened without delay and the hearing held within three months of the date of notification of the athlete’s request to the Member,” states Rule 38.9 of the 2010-2011 IAAF Competition Rules book.

Last year, Jamaicans Lansford Spence, Marvin Anderson, Yohan Blake, Allodin Fothergill and Sheri-Ann Brooks returned an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance 4-Methyl-2-Hexanamine at the National Trials, ahead of the Berlin World Championships.

Brooks, who was initially cleared by the Jamaica Anti-doping Appeals Tribunal, later accepted a three-month ban from the IAAF ending February 12 this year. The other four served three-month suspensions ending December 2009.

Other Jamaicans to have tested positive for banned substances include sprinters Merlene Ottey (Nandrolone); Julien Dunkley (Boldenone); Steve Mullings (Testosterone); Patrick Jarrett (Stanozolol); shot putter Dorian Scott (marijuana); and long/triple jumper Suzette Lee (Salbutamol, which is used for the treatment of asthma, chronic bronchitis and other breathing disorders).