Dear Editor,

After reading Ms Shirley’s article in Sports Illustrated, I cannot find anything to carp about, assuming the figures and information she exhibited are correct. I do not, however, like the timing of her article, coming almost co-jointly with the national high achievements at the Moscow Games. Nevertheless, as the “biggest” country in sprints we must use this as a wake-up call for instituting checks and balances and transparency in this and other national matters, instead of the all too prevalent nudge and a wink system of managing our affairs.

There is not a single nation on earth which can be trusted to do the right thing always, or there would be no need for rules of procedure . Due to the realities of human nature, even learned judges with a half-a-century of experience must stand down in a case where a close friend/relative or a spouse is due for trial.

Jamaica is now the biggest force, repeat world champion in fact, of short sprinting, so instead of adopting a “why pick on poor little me” attitude we should “man up” to the requirements of being big.

WADA is now threatening to kick Jamaica out of the 2016 Olympics if we do not comply with standard testing responsibilities . It can’t be right that we can find millions to “shell down” at the London Olympics but are palms up with a dismissive shrug when it comes to setting up proper lab facilities.

We are #1 for a reason. It may be our unique early nurture of athletic talent as at annual Champs. It may also be that our people love and encourage the flair of explosive sports, and/or events, or a mix of the foregoing. What it is not, however, is inexplicable supernaturalism.

Cathy Brown

cathy291181@yahoo.com