AFTER her much publicised adverse analytical finding, one of the nation’s heroines, Veronica Campbell Brown, has been put in the clear by the Disciplinary Committee of the JAAA.

She must be sleeping a lot better these days, although she might be keeping one eye and an ear fixed on the final decision of the IAAF, and especially the World Anti-doping Association (WADA). That should be made clear in a matter of weeks, if not days.

If either of the worldwide bodies are not in agreement with the verdict (public warning), they could take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) where it would deliberate. Much has been said about the privacy surrounding the hearing and rightly so, since all the other cases have been public. However, this modus operandi is practise around the world. Cases like these are held in private and the rulings are only made public when everything is done. Jamaica Anti-doping agency (JADCO) has decided to make it a public spectacle in the name of transparency, simply because it is a government organisation. The publicity does no good for the athletes, but it provides daily talking points for the public, both locally and internationally both supporters and detractors.

But what of the future of the illustrious athlete? VCB is now 31 years old, an age that many athletes would have retired and gone into private life in the past. But this is the modern era where professionalism offers the option of longevity and prolonged glory. Of course, there have been suggestions that she should pull up stumps and call it a day. After all, the next World Championships are two years away and the Olympics will not come around until she is 34. With so many youngsters emerging worldwide, the chance of maintaining her status among the best should be greatly diminished. I think not.

VCB has maintained a strict professional training and competition regimen ever since she signed a professional contract over a decade ago. With a continuation of that regimen, there is no doubt that she could medal at all the big events from 2015 to 2017. Her mentor is none other than the great Merlene Ottey, who had some of her greatest achievements in her 30s. All Ottey did was win three gold, three silver and three bronze medals at the World Championships after she was 30! She also won three Olympic bronze medals during that time. Not an insignificant haul.

And if the Ottey example seems old and dated, one can look to American Carmelita Jeter, the 2011 World 100-meter champion, who will be 34 years old in another month. Carmelita also picked up silver and bronze in the 100 and 200 in London, and bronze in Moscow, even while fighting injury.

With the way contracts are structured, these “sprinting senior citizens” could have significant sporting and economic drawdowns continuing way into her 30s. All they have to do is make their national teams and grab a medal or two. Back to Ottey. She won bronze in Sydney 2000 at 40! I would not bet against VCB being competitive in 2017.

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