Dear Editor,

The officials of Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) are very experienced, competent people who have shown their mettle over many years, and so, in the absence of an explanation, which has been slow in coming, they should be given the benefit of the doubt.

However, given the seriousness of the allegations from two of our top field events competitors — high jumper Lamara Distin and Danniel Thomas-Dodd — that their specialist coaches were denied accreditation at the Paris Olympics, the answers thus far provided to the public fall short of what is required.

Generalised complaints about poor treatment of field event athletes have been met by answers about how much financial support they get. That is, in my opinion, a typical politician-like non-answer, evading the main issue: non-accreditation of their coaches, a vital part of their preparation and game-day execution.

There may indeed be a perfectly plausible explanation. Gentlemen, may we have it please. Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora are entitled to it.

Errol W A Townshend

ewat@rogers.com