MORE Jamaicans, yesterday, threw their support behind Veronica Campbell Brown, with some saying they will be praying for the sprinter as she awaits her fate following news that she tested positive for a banned substance.

“I am really hoping that when we hear from her the explanation [it] will be a valid one. I don’t believe she would have gone that route [because] she is too talented an athlete for that,” said Simone Sterling, who described herself as a fan of the Jamaican athlete.

Sterling, a St Catherine resident, was one of several Jamaicans who were up to yesterday still trying to come to terms with the shocking news.

“I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed, and hoping for the best. We can’t afford to have our track and field image to be tainted by this publicity,” said Faith Turner, a Campbell Brown fan from Kingston.

Turner, who said she would also be praying for the athlete, said she was quite shocked but thought there must be some explanation.

“I believe that our Jamaican ambassador would never do anything that would destroy our country’s image, let alone their own,” said Turner.

Althalee Jackson shared similar sentiments.

“I really don’t think she would do that after such a fulfilling career,” the St Mary resident told the Jamaica Observer yesterday. She also said she would also be praying for the athlete.

“We really believe that when she was on top she had our support, so it’s just as important that we continue to place our support behind her through this troubled time,” Jackson said.

Kevin Warren, another fan, said he believed prayer would pave the way forward. “I will definitely be hoping and praying for the best for her,” said Warren.

Reports of Campbell Brown’s failure of a drug test at the Jamaica International Invitational (JII) meet surfaced last Thursday, and just over 24 hours later it was heard that the ‘B’ sample had also returned a positive test at the IAAF certified laboratory in Montreal, Canada.