British-born Ebony Drysdale-Daley (left) in action for Jamaica.
Jamaica’s British-born judoka Ebony Drysdale-Daley has accused the Jamaican Judo Association (JJA) of bias where selection for this summer’s Paris Olympic Games is concerned, as she believes her path to qualification is deliberately being blocked by the powers that be.
With only one judo spot available to Jamaica for the upcoming Games, Drysdale-Daley, who became the country’s first athlete to compete in judo at an Olympic Games, when she graced the 2021 Tokyo edition, argued that she is now being overlooked by the association since her male counterpart Ashley McKenzie came in the picture.
McKenzie, who was also born in England, and won a silver medal at last year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, currently occupies the coveted spot, as he is nine points ahead of Drysdale-Daley.
It is on that basis why Drysdale-Daley, the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, alleges that her self-funded effort to attend a qualifying event in an attempt to possibly overhaul McKenzie is being hindered by the association's hierarchy.
“I feel the federation has shown no impartiality. I feel there is a real question of ethics, a real question of integrity. The Jamaican Judo association is blocking me from attending and competing in my last qualifying event, an event that I have self-funded and paid for. They (the JJA) told me that they weren't going to help finance, even though when I was in qualifying position, a fund was in reserve to help athletes in that position. But I never questioned that, I did my best to crowdfund and work for it,” Drysdale-Daley shared in a widely-circulated video lasting almost four minutes.
“They have removed me from competition registry. The Jamaican Judo Association had initially registered me for this event, now they have removed me. I feel there are clear and present inconsistencies and I have evidence and emails to support this. I feel the Jamaican Judo Association have favoured the other athlete in contention over me. They have effectively secured and ensured the other athletes qualification ahead of mine by blocking me from this final tournament of which I have paid flights for,” she added.
That tournament which Drysdale-Daley refers to is the Lima Pan American Open starting on June 21. This represents the final competition before the qualification deadline.
The allegations by the 29-year-old raises questions about fairness and transparency within the Judo Association and beyond, as she also leveled claims that she is being ignored and pushed aside by the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA).
“The Jamaican Olympic Association, and the Jamaican Judo Association have not responded to my emails and have cruelly ignored me. The deadline for me to be re-entered is in two days’ time. This is very time sensitive. I feel let down by my peers. I feel so alone,” Drysdale-Daley noted as she fought back tears.
JJA President Dwayne Barnett.
However, the Dwayne Barnett-led JJA in a release, emphatically denied the allegations, and stressed its steadfast commitment to fairness, integrity, and providing equal opportunities for all athletes.
“The JJA categorically refutes any claims of impropriety or personal interests influencing the selection process. The General Secretary and other mentioned individuals have no personal or vested interests that would compromise the integrity of these processes. The JJA upholds the highest standards of impartiality and professionalism,” the JJA statement read.
On that note, the JJA explained that its decision to omit Drysdale-Dale from qualification was made on the basis of the athlete’s disregard for deadlines, including for Anti-doping testing, which she failed to turn up for on two occasions.
“It is important to clarify that Olympic qualification in judo requires athletes to meet specific criteria. As in most sports, if not in all, qualification is based on merit and current performance of athletes so as to ensure the best representation. The JJA subscribes to this principle,” it declared.
“The decision to exclude Ebony from the upcoming qualifying event was solely based on her consistent failure to comply with deadlines and her repeated attempts to circumvent the processes established by the JJA for efficient management of competition entries. The importance of adhering to these deadlines has been communicated to all athletes on numerous occasions,” JJA added.
Regarding support and funding, the JJA revealed that Drysdale-Daley has received financial support exceeding US$50,000 from the JOA and other strategic partners since the day she began to represent Jamaica in judo.
“The JJA empathizes with Ebony Drysdale-Daley's disappointment and frustration. However, it is imperative to recognize that deadlines are an essential component of our processes. The JJA stands by its decisions, which are made in accordance with established rules and regulations,” the release stated.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Ebony Drysdale-Daley considers legal action against Jamaica Judo Federation after ban overturned: Legal rep. slams JJF's 'egregious' behaviour
Jamaican judoka Ebony Drysdale-Daley is considering legal action against the Jamaica Judo Federation (JJA) after her one-year ban, which was imposed in June 2024, was overturned by the JJA Appeals Committee last week. The athlete, who became Jamaica’s first judoka to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, expressed her relief at returning to the sport she loves but voiced disappointment over how the situation was handled by the federation.
“I feel really relieved that I can come back to the sport I love. It’s been so depressing not being able to be a part of something that’s been a part of most of my life,” said Drysdale-Daley. “I feel hugely disappointed, the way I felt abandoned, it’s been very hurtful and I am now considering suing.”
One of her legal representatives, Dr. Emir Crowne, lashed out at the JJA, describing their actions as shocking and unjustified. He criticized the federation for imposing the ban without granting Drysdale-Daley the opportunity to defend herself, stating that it was one of the most egregious cases he had encountered in his legal career.
“It is absolutely shocking what the Jamaica Judo Federation has done to Ms. Drysdale-Daley, a promising Olympian,” Dr. Crowne said. “It banned her on the heels of an Olympic qualifying event, where she was ranked No.1 and would have received a bye to the finals, thereby earning enough points to qualify for the Olympics, irrespective of whether she placed first or second.”
The suspension was initially imposed by JJA President Dwayne Barnett under the federation’s Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy, citing a violation of the federation’s Code of Ethics. Drysdale-Daley was accused of actions that allegedly brought the JJA into disrepute. The suspension letter, issued on July 26, 2024, notified her of the one-year ban, which would last from June 13, 2024, to June 12, 2025.
The JJA justified conducting the disciplinary hearing without Drysdale-Daley’s presence, claiming it was in line with the policy. However, the Appeals Committee found significant procedural errors, including the failure to notify Drysdale-Daley of informal resolutions or grant her the opportunity to respond to the accusations.
In his statement, Dr. Crowne further criticized the JJA’s handling of the case. “To ban her in those circumstances, and completely deprive her of any right to be heard or any due process at all, is absolutely indefensible. The initial ban—of indefinite duration—was apparently initiated by the President, Mr. Dwayne Barnett, and then replaced with a one-year ban by the Executive Committee (of which Mr. Barnett was a member). Even the appeal itself, Mr. Barnett appeared for the Jamaica Judo Federation in defense of the Executive Committee’s decision. It was akin to a High Court judge appearing before the Court of Appeal defending his decision. Most unusual.”
The Appeals Committee, after reviewing the case, found that the JJA had not adhered to its own policies or Statutes. The Committee ruled that the Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy was invoked prematurely, without exhausting reasonable measures to resolve the issue through informal dialogue, as required. Additionally, the Committee found no evidence that Drysdale-Daley was formally invited to appear before the Executive Committee, further invalidating the decision to suspend her.
As a result, the Appeals Committee overturned the suspension and reinstated Drysdale-Daley’s membership with immediate effect, highlighting that the federation’s actions violated its governance structures.
“At the end of the day, the Appeals Committee ‘saw through’ the glaring transparency breaches committed by the Jamaica Judo Federation and ordered that her membership be reinstated with immediate effect,” Dr. Crowne added. “To say that this is one of the most egregious cases I’ve seen in my career would be an understatement. It is but another example of a federation acting with absolute impunity. ‘Wrong and strong’ till the end.”
With her membership restored, Drysdale-Daley can now return to competitive judo. However, her legal team is now exploring the possibility of suing the JJA for damages caused by the suspension, which came at a critical time as she aimed to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
As the dust settles on her successful appeal, the legal battle between Drysdale-Daley and the JJA may be far from over.
Appeals Committee overturns Jamaica Judo Federation's ban on Ebony Drysdale-Daley
The suspension of Jamaican judoka Ebony Drysdale-Daley by the Jamaica Judo Federation (JJA) has been overturned following a hearing by the Appeals Committee last week. The committee ruled that the federation failed to follow proper procedures in enforcing its Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy, resulting in an invalid disciplinary process.
The Appeals Committee, chaired by Rashid Hall and Lyle-Anthony Golding, convened on October 14, 2024, to hear the appeal submitted by Drysdale-Daley, who had been handed a one-year suspension by the JJA for allegedly violating its Code of Ethics. The suspension, which was originally set for the period June 13, 2024 to June 12, 2025, had been imposed by the JJA’s Executive Committee, which included President Dwayne Barnett, Vice-President Marvin Anthony Rickards, and Treasurer Fernando Gonzalves.
During the hearing, Drysdale-Daley was represented by Dr. Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones, and Sayeed Bernard, while Dwayne Barnett represented the JJA.
The case centered around the JJA’s use of its Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy to justify Drysdale-Daley’s suspension and the decision to conduct a disciplinary hearing without her being present. However, the Appeals Committee found significant procedural flaws in the federation’s handling of the case.
Drysdale-Daley, who became Jamaica’s first judoka to compete at an Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, claimed the JJA initially registered her for an event in Lima, Peru, but later removed her, depriving her of the opportunity to challenge Ashley McKenzie for the sole available judo spot for Jamaica. McKenzie had secured a silver medal at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games last year.
“They have removed me from the competition registry. I feel the Jamaican Judo Association has favoured the other athlete in contention over me. They have effectively secured the other athlete’s qualification ahead of mine by blocking me from this final tournament, of which I have paid flights for,” Drysdale-Daley said.
The Dwayne Barnett-led JJA, in a statement, firmly denied these accusations, asserting that the federation’s decisions were based on adherence to deadlines and procedures, including missed Anti-Doping tests, which Drysdale-Daley reportedly failed to attend.
“The JJA categorically refutes any claims of impropriety or personal interests influencing the selection process. The General Secretary and other mentioned individuals have no personal or vested interests that would compromise the integrity of these processes,” the statement read.
She was subsequently suspended.
One of the key issues identified was the failure to exhaust all reasonable measures before invoking the policy, as outlined in Point 1.4 of the policy, which mandates that it should be used "only as a last resort." The Appeals Committee determined that there were no attempts by the JJA to resolve the matter through informal channels or standard procedures before resorting to disciplinary action.
Additionally, the Appeals Committee found that Drysdale-Daley was not properly notified or given an opportunity to address the situation before sanctions were applied, violating Point 4.2 of the policy. This failure to follow due process rendered the JJA’s decision invalid.
Further scrutiny of the JJA’s Statutes also revealed that Drysdale-Daley had not been formally invited to appear before the Executive Committee to address the accusations against her, as required by Article 17. This failure to follow the association’s own statutes constituted another breach, further invalidating the suspension.
In its ruling, the Appeals Committee concluded that the Jamaica Judo Federation had not adhered to the correct procedures in both invoking the Vexatious Complaints and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy and enforcing its Statutes. Consequently, the committee overturned the suspension and ordered Drysdale-Daley's immediate reinstatement as a member of the federation.
'You can be where Julien Alfred is': Joanna Alfred encourages aspiring athletes to reach for their goals
Joanna Alfred is a proud mother, and it is clear for all to see.
But while she basks in the accomplishments of her daughter Julien Alfred and the recognition that comes with having a historic double Olympic medallist in the family, the senior Alfred used the opportunity to remind aspiring athletes that they too can become a national hero like her daughter.
“Yes, she is one of the biggest heroes today because of where she came from and where she started. And I also want children to learn from that and understand that it doesn't matter where you come from; you can still be where Julien Alfred is,” a beaming Joanna said as the island continues to celebrate her daughter's homecoming.
Having come from humble beginnings in Ciceron, situated in St Lucia’s capital Castries, Alfred honed her talent overtime and rose through the ranks on her way to copping an historic 100m gold and 200m silver at the Paris Olympic Games in August. Prior to that, she became the first St Lucian to win a World Indoor 60m title.
Those accomplishments followed an impressive NCAA campaign in which she copped the NCAA indoor 60m and 200m titles, as well as the outdoor honours over 100m and 200m. She was also the 2023 Bowerman Award winner, the prize given to the outstanding collegiate track and field athlete each year.
While the journey was by no means easy for either Alfred or her family, Joanna pointed to one thing in particular that assisted her daughter along the way –parental support.
“You can support your child. God will do the rest. So everything's going to fall into place,” she declared.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child, and indeed it does because if I didn't have the support of at least Twa Ti Ney [Julien’s local coach, Cuthbert Modeste] when her father passed, he became the father figure in this young lady’s life, then again I would have to struggle, so it took a village to raise a child as well,” Joanna shared.
Beyond the background support, Joanna pointed out that Alfred’s grit, determination, and unflinching desire to become a successful athlete were the foundation on which she rose to prominence and inevitably became the sprint queen of the island with a population of just about 180,000 people.
“It was not the food on her plate but the food in her mind that really encouraged her because even when she faced situations, the food in her mind really encouraged her to be where she is,” Joanna declared.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
