Amid JAAA controversy, CAS to decide Nayoka Clunis' Olympic fate on Sunday

By July 19, 2024

 

In a crucial development leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) Ad hoc Division is expected to rule on the dispute between hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis and the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, by Sunday, July 21.

Clunis, who earned her spot with a national record throw of 71.83m in May, was initially selected by the JAAA to represent Jamaica in the hammer throw. However, her name was not submitted to World Athletics by the JAAA, leaving her Olympic status in jeopardy. In response, Clunis has sought a ruling from the CAS Ad hoc Division to ensure her inclusion in the hammer throw competition at the Paris Olympics.

The panel of arbitrators, comprising Honourable Annabelle Bennett QC, SC of Australia as President, along with Ms. Carline Dupeyron of France and Olympian Ms. Kristen Thorness of the USA, will hear the case on July 20, 2024. The panel's decision is expected to be announced the following day.

The urgency of Clunis' appeal stems from a lack of response from the JAAA. On Tuesday, Clunis instructed her lawyers to contact CAS if no response was received from the JAAA by 5 p.m. that day. Despite the CAS setting an 11 a.m. Friday deadline for the JAAA to file materials, they reportedly failed to meet this requirement.

Sportsmax.TV sources did indicate that the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), World Athletics (WA) and the IOC have all filed submissions in the dispute.

Clunis' bid for inclusion in the Olympic roster has been fueled by frustration over the JAAA's handling of her case. Her throw, placing her among the top 32 hammer throwers globally this year, underscores her qualification and readiness to compete at the highest level.

A favorable ruling would rectify the administrative oversight and allow Clunis to showcase her talent on the Olympic stage, fulfilling her dream of competing in Paris.

 Clunis is represented by attorneys Dr Emir Crowne and Sayeed Bernard.

 

 

Leighton Levy

Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.

Related items

  • Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce launches hair care line, AFIMI, ahead of final Olympic Games Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce launches hair care line, AFIMI, ahead of final Olympic Games

    In what is hoped will be a memorable year for Jamaican track and field star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the legendary sprinter has announced the launch of her new hair care line, AFIMI. The announcement comes as Fraser-Pryce prepares to compete in her final Olympic Games, aiming to make history by winning a record-extending fifth Olympic 100m medal in Paris.

    Fraser-Pryce, 37, has faced injury challenges over the past few years and has only had four races this season, three of which were at the Jamaican national championships in late June. Despite her limited time on the track, her entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive. The three-time Olympic gold medalist shared the news of her latest venture on Instagram, posting a video that features her running on a track, enjoying the beach, and proudly standing beside her products, all while wearing various hairstyles that showcase the versatility of her yet-to-be-released hair care line.

    In her Instagram post, Fraser-Pryce, adorned in Jamaican colors, is seen wearing braids, lace front wigs, and other styles, emphasizing the multi-use nature of AFIMI products. The caption reads, “Hair is your most powerful form of self-expression and has been an exciting way to reinvent myself every time I step on the track. From the main stage to the finish line, my hair has helped me set the tone for many fearless victories. That’s why it’s so important that it gets the care it needs. I’ve designed these products with you in mind to keep your hair feeling and performing its best no matter what comes your way. This line is a vibrant tribute to Jamaica, inspired by its lush resources and welcoming essence — each ingredient naturally sourced from the earth to enhance your natural beauty. AFIMI, It’s for you, no matter who you are.”

    Fraser-Pryce is no stranger to making bold statements with her hair. Whether at the World Athletics Championships or the Olympic Games, she has consistently used her hair to express her vibrant personality and Jamaican pride. At the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, she won her fourth world championship gold medal in the 100 meters with a stunning rainbow-dyed hairstyle. In 2022, she claimed her record fifth world 100m title in Eugene, Oregon, while sporting a beautiful blonde look with green and yellow highlights.

    At the 2023 World Athletics Championships, she left fans speechless with a striking orange wig featuring elements of hot pink during her first 100m heat. Similarly, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, she wore a yellow-to-orange ombre wig while taking home the silver medal in the women’s 100m race.

    Fraser-Pryce's love for hair dates back to 2013 when she launched Chic Hair Ja, a store that retailed virgin human hair and hair care products in Kingston. The store enjoyed a successful run until 2017. That same year, she revamped and rebranded her hair care line to Lady Shelly, adding natural products to the lineup. Lady Shelly featured products made in Jamaica with natural ingredients, catering to all hair textures and positioning itself as a multicultural hair care line.

    As Fraser-Pryce prepares for her final Olympic Games, fans are eagerly anticipating not only her performance on the track but also the stylish hair looks she will undoubtedly bring to Paris. With AFIMI, she continues to inspire and empower, showing that her influence extends far beyond the world of athletics.

     

     

     

  • JAAA “deeply saddened” by CAS ruling preventing national champion Nayoka Clunis from competing in Paris Olympics JAAA “deeply saddened” by CAS ruling preventing national champion Nayoka Clunis from competing in Paris Olympics

    Nayoka Clunis will not get her chance to compete at the Paris Olympics as the Court of Arbitration for Sport Ad Hoc Division concluded that it lacks jurisdiction to hear the dispute brought forward by the 28-year-old.

    Clunis, a four-time Jamaican national champion and current national record holder, filed a last-minute appeal to the CAS Ad Hoc Division on Friday after she qualified for and was selected by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) to represent Jamaica in the hammer throw competition in Paris, but her name was not submitted by the local governing body to World Athletics.

    “The application filed by Ms Nayoka Clunis (JAM), who sought a decision from the CAS ad hoc Division directing that she be included on the appropriate list to participate in the hammer throw competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, could not be entertained as it was filed outside the jurisdiction of the CAS ad hoc Division Paris 2024. As a consequence, the case could not be reviewed on the merits.” the CAS ad hoc division release stated on Monday.

    It continued, “Nayoka Clunis was qualified and selected by the JAAA to represent Jamaica in the hammer throw competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, but her name was not submitted by the JAAA to World Athletics (WA) due to an unfortunate omission. The unused quota was reallocated to another athlete, Iryna Klymets (Ukraine).”

    The JAAA expressed that they were “deeply saddened” by the situation in a release of their own on Monday.

    “We note the decision of the ad hoc panel of CAS that they do not have jurisdiction to hear the matter as the dispute arose outside the 10 days window for disputes relating to the Olympic Games,” the release stated.

    It continued: “At all times we (JAAA) have been supportive of the athlete’s participation at the Olympic Games and in fact had petitioned World Athletics to include her in the list of participating athletes even if it meant increasing the number of participants to 33.”

    The Association noted that while World Athletics didn’t alter their position of 32 participants, they maintained that if any vacancy arises, it would be allocated to Clunis.

    The statement continued: “Notwithstanding the above CAS also made note that the respondent (JAAA) would have been unable to provide the relief being sought by the applicant (Clunis) and that World Athletics and the IOC would be the ones that could provide that relief. Again, we are deeply saddened that this situation continues and are making every effort in the hope that World Athletics and the IOC will find a way to enable Ms. Clunis to compete in the Olympics.”

    Clunis set a new national record of 71.83m at the USATF Throws Festival in Tucson, Arizona in May, one of three throws she’s had over 70m this season.

    She represented the country at the World Championships in Budapest last year and this  would’ve been her first appearance at the Olympics.

     

     

  • Nayoka Clunis's Olympic dreams shattered by administrative oversight: CAS declares 'No Jurisdiction' Nayoka Clunis's Olympic dreams shattered by administrative oversight: CAS declares 'No Jurisdiction'

    In a decisive ruling on Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Ad Hoc Division concluded that it lacks jurisdiction to hear the dispute brought forward by Jamaican hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis. The decision came after a detailed examination of the timeline and events leading up to the application filed by Clunis on July 18, 2024.

    On July 4, 2024, Clunis's name was omitted from the list sent to World Athletics (WA). By July 7, she was informed by the JAAA that her name was missing from the list, and on July 8, WA confirmed that her name could not be added. Despite Clunis's contention that the dispute only crystallized when she received detailed submissions from WA on July 19, the CAS determined that the dispute had arisen earlier.

    The CAS proceedings began on July 18, 2024, with a videoconference hearing on July 20. The parties involved included Clunis and her counsel Dr Emir Crowne and Sayeed Bernard, representatives from the JAAA, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), WA, and the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA). The panel, consisting of President Dr. Annabelle Bennett and arbitrators Ms. Carine Dupeyron and Ms. Kristen Thorsness OLY, found that the timeline of events placed the dispute outside their jurisdiction.

    Clunis's submission stated that due to an administrative error and the impact of Hurricane Beryl, her name was not submitted to WA for the Paris Olympic Games. She argued that this exceptional situation warranted the CAS Ad Hoc Division's intervention to prevent an unjust outcome. However, the IOC and WA contested the jurisdiction, pointing out that the dispute arose before the 10-day window preceding the Opening Ceremony.

    The CAS panel reviewed the chronology of events, noting key dates such as World Athletics (WA’s) confirmation of qualified athletes on July 5 and the JAAA’s attempts to rectify the error from July 6 onwards. The dispute, according to the CAS, did not arise when Clunis received the detailed correspondence but rather when she was first informed of the omission.

    Ultimately, the CAS concluded that it had no jurisdiction as the dispute arose before the 10-day period leading up to the Olympics. The panel acknowledged the unfairness to Clunis, who was deprived of the opportunity to compete due to circumstances beyond her control. Despite recognizing the hardship, the CAS emphasized that jurisdiction could not be assumed where it does not exist under the rules.

    Mike Morgan and Ben Cisneros appeared for the JAAA; Antonio Rigozzi and Eolos Rigopoulos for the IOC, Ian Wilkson for the JOA and Catherine Pitre (Counsel) and expert witnesses Carlo de Angeli and Marton Gyulai for World Athletics.

     

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.