Trinidad and Tobago Olympian Michelle-Lee Ahye may yet make the plane to Tokyo 2020 despite a two-year ban after a whereabouts violation in April of 2019.
The postponement of the Tokyo games until the Summer of 2021 means Ahye, who is appealing that ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), would have been too late even if successful, but that is now, no longer true.
In fact, even if her appeal is unsuccessful, Ahye may still suit up for T&T.
Ahye has the support of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) throughout the appeals process and the sprinter will be going to CAS with the organisation’s lawyer, Dave Williams.
According to Williams, who spoke to Errol Baptiste on I95.5fm recently, Ahye’s ban began in April of 2019 and is scheduled to end in April of 2019, a full three months before the next Olympics.
Ahye had missed three drug tests on June 23, 2018, February 23, 2019 and April 19, 2019.
"Yes, on a technicality yes, she is available. There is no precedent in place that would prevent her from participating once she qualifies, in the July 2021 Olympics,” said Williams.
Despite the technicality, Williams and the TTOC are still going ahead with their appeal because there are other considerations for the athlete.
"Michelle would have, in fact, suffered as a result of the order issued by the Tribunal, the medals, the titles and awards that she would have received during the period (April to August, 2019), as a result of the Tribunal’s ruling, she would no longer be entitled to such, as a matter of fact, the order goes on to say that Michele’s result from April 2019 shall be disqualified with all resulting consequences including the forfeiture of any titles or awards, medals, points so we are appealing that as well. So, notwithstanding the fact that yes she has benefitted as a consequence of COVID-19, there are still issues that we would like to have reversed in Michelle’s favour,” said Williams.
Williams explained that the process with CAS has been completed and it was now just a wait and see situation.
“We have lodged our appeal, the respondent has since submitted their response to our appeal and it is up to CAS now, both parties have in fact made their relevant submissions to CAS, so the matter is now being deliberated on by CAS," said Williams.
How soon that judgement will be handed down has not been revealed by the CAS yet.
Williams also explained that the ban cannot be extended because the Olympics were moved and/or any extenuating circumstances surrounding the spread of COVID-19.