National squash player Julian Morrison, through his legal representatives, has asked the Independent Anti-Doping Panel’s (IADP) Catherine Minto to recuse herself as chairperson in his hearing against the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO).

This is because of a perceived conflict of interest regarding a working relationship between Minto and JADCO’s legal representative Ian Wilkinson.

Morrison, represented by legal counsels Matthew Gayle, Emir Crowne, and Sayeed Bernard, is seeking to prove his innocence after testing positive for trace amounts of Boldenone, a banned anabolic substance, on January 28.

JADCO has provisionally suspended Morrison because of the finding, affecting his preparation as he aims to qualify to represent Jamaica at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

Morrison’s legal representatives argue that Minto did not disclose what they describe as an “extensive prior working relationship” with Wilkinson.

They say they became aware on Friday of several instances where Minto was co-counsel with Wilkinson and/or was even instructed by him.

World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) International Standard for Results Management (ISFRM) has clear rules about conflicts of interest in anti-doping hearings.

“Upon appointment to a hearing panel, each hearing panel member shall sign a declaration that there are no facts or circumstances known to him/her which might call into question their impartiality in the eyes of any of the parties, other than any circumstances disclosed in the declaration,” WADA’s ISFRM document says.

WADA also says, “The parties shall be informed of their right to challenge the appointment of any hearing panel member if there are grounds for potential conflicts of interest within seven days from the ground for the challenge having become known.”

Morrison’s hearing was set to occur virtually on Tuesday and Wednesday, between 10 am and 4 pm daily.

More to follow on this story.