BEIJING, China — The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has rejected Jamaica’s appeal to have Nesta Carter replace the injured Kemar Bailey-Cole in the 100 metres event here at the 15th IAAF World Championships, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) general secretary Garth Gayle has said.

Carter, who finished fourth at Jamaica’s National Senior Championships in June and was named in the 4x100m relay pool, was drafted last Sunday to replace Bailey-Cole.

But the IAAF ruled that Carter was ineligible, claiming he was not entered as a reserve initially.

“I have not received any answer other than simply, the technical delegate has ruled on the matter. That is unacceptable and in this day and age, I cannot see why it is that a proper answer cannot be given,” fumed Gayle, who was a few days ago elected a member of the IAAF technical committee.

“Jamaica has exercised its franchise as any of the 216 member federations. We entered in the 100m three individual competitors, plus the wild card give us four. We are seeking to make a substitution, not an addition from our roster for our team for an injured athlete,” explained Gayle.

“This is done within the guidelines of the competition which is before declaration and technical meeting. Words from our management and technical team in that the IAAF has declined or denied Jamaica its right for a substitution according to the IAAF rules,” he noted.

“I find that difficult to accept and it is something to which I have been vigorously seeking an answer. The answer that I am receiving from the IAAF is not pleasing and it’s not within the spirit of the competition where a country is now being denied one of its legitimate entrants where we are seeking simply a substitution. I cannot understand the reason,” he continued.

“I will continue to lobby within the corridors of the IAAF on this matter because whether or not we entered one competitor, two competitors or three competitors or 10 competitors, the fact of the matter is you are entitled to substitution within the framework and the spirit of the competitions within the guidelines and we have done that,” he argued.

“We are not adding a new competitor per se, we are substituting an injured athlete with another athlete. That’s all we are seeking,” said Gayle.

However, despite Gayle’s explanation, a similar situation faced the JAAA at last year’s World Junior Championships in Oregon, USA, when Michael O’Hara and Jonielle Smith, competing in the boys’ and girls’ 100 metres events, respectively, could not be replaced because no athlete had been entered on the substitutes lists.

Smith was injured, while O’Hara wanted to withdraw from the 100m to concentrate on the 200m event.