Attorneys representing Jamaican squash player Julian Morrison have filed a formal application requesting that Catherine Minto, Chair of the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, recuse herself from the ongoing hearing concerning an alleged anti-doping violation. The application, filed by Dr. Emir Crowne, Mr. Matthew Gayle, and Mr. Sayeed Bernard, on Monday, September 2, argues that Minto’s prior extensive working relationship with Kings Counsel Ian Wilkinson, who is representing the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) in the matter, presents a potential conflict of interest.
The legal team’s concerns are rooted in the principle of impartiality, as outlined in WADA’s International Standard for Results Management. This standard mandates that members of hearing panels must be free from any actual or potential conflicts of interest to ensure a fair and unbiased adjudication process.
According to the standard, “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…”
Morrison's legal team discovered on August 30, 2024, that Minto had previously served as co-counsel with Wilkinson in several cases, some of which spanned nearly a decade and culminated in an appeal to the Privy Council. Despite the significant duration and nature of this professional relationship, it was not disclosed to Morrison or his representatives at the outset of the hearing. They argue that this omission compromises the perceived impartiality of the Chair and raises questions about the fairness of the proceedings.
Matthew Gayle, one of Morrison’s attorneys, emphasized the seriousness of the situation: “Given that the panel has considered the issue of recusal, substantively for a significant period of time, this ought to have been a matter that was disclosed to the parties so the athlete has no way of knowing but for information in the public domain. This should have been disclosed by the Chair herself and to the parties and give the athlete an opportunity to consider whether or not he wants to raise an objection, and in the circumstances where no disclosure has taken place it does raise a very serious question as to why,” he told Sportsmax.TV.
The application highlights multiple cases, including ones from 2014, 2016, and 2020, where Minto and Wilkinson worked closely together. Morrison’s legal team contends that this omission violates the ethical guidelines that require transparency and impartiality from those presiding over such hearings.
In April, Morrison was provisionally suspended by JADCO after testing positive for trace amounts of the banned anabolic agent Boldenone. Since then, he has been eagerly awaiting the chance to clear his name. His legal team has argued that Morrison unknowingly ingested the substance and is determined to prove his innocence.
The attorneys have requested that Minto either voluntarily recuse herself and be replaced by an alternate who has no recent or extensive professional ties to JADCO's counsel, or that the application for her recusal be decided by other members of the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel who are free from similar conflicts.
Morrison’s legal team stressed that this application was not made lightly, acknowledging that it could delay the proceedings. However, they assert that the integrity of the hearing and the athlete’s right to a fair trial must take precedence.
The outcome of this recusal application could significantly impact the course of the hearing, as both parties await a decision that will determine the next steps in this high-stakes case. Morrison remains resolute in his fight to prove his innocence and is hopeful that he will be granted a fair opportunity to do so.
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.
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.
Former Sportsmax presenter Alex Jordan, Carlos Brathwaite honoured with special sports award at Barbados Labour Party ceremony
Accomplished athlete and sports commentator Alex Jordan was recognized with a Special Sports Award on Friday night at the 85th Annual Conference of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Awards Ceremony. The prestigious event, held at the Christchurch Foundation School, also saw former West Indies cricketer Carlos Brathwaite receiving an award, with Barbados Prime Minister The Honourable Mia Mottley and President of Guyana Dr. Irfaan Ali in attendance.
Jordan, a versatile broadcaster and beloved sports commentator across the Caribbean, was celebrated for her outstanding contributions to sports journalism. The citation highlighted her dynamic career, which spans over 20 years, and her representation of Barbados in squash, golf, and swimming. Fluent in four languages, Jordan has also played diplomatic roles for the Government of Barbados on several United Nations bodies, further demonstrating her multi-faceted talents.
“Kaitlin Alexandra Jordan is a dynamic athlete, broadcaster, and sports commentator, who has proudly represented Barbados in squash, golf, and swimming. Fluent in four languages, Alex has played key diplomatic roles for the Government of Barbados on several UN bodies. With over 20 years of experience in radio and TV broadcasting, she has focused her career on sports journalism,” the citation read.
Jordan’s career has seen her grow into a prominent figure in Caribbean sports broadcasting. After returning to Barbados to help launch the Alex Jordan Morning Show on SLAM 101, she transitioned into sports broadcasting, eventually commentating for the Caribbean Premier League. She has since earned a global audience, covering major sporting events like the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, winning fans across the Caribbean for her knowledge and passion.
Jordan and fellow awardee Carlos Brathwaite at the rostrum on Friday where they received their awards.
In an emotional acceptance speech, Jordan expressed her deep pride in being a Barbadian and her admiration for the leadership of Prime Minister Mottley and President Ali.
“May I just say how proud I am to be a Barbadian. We are from such a unique place, and what has distinguished us in the region and the world is our government. I am so grateful for the productivity, the professionalism, the decision-making, and action of this government,” said Jordan.
She also spoke about the importance of regional unity and the strong relationship between Barbados and Guyana: “I am so happy to see these two leaders from Barbados and Guyana, their relationship, their regional and global vision reinforcing how important it is to our identity to understand that we are part of a collective. They are so smart and vibrant and making waves around the world; wherever I go in the world, people tell me how much they admire Mia Mottley, and it makes me deeply proud.”
Jordan’s recognition underscores her significant contributions to sports and Caribbean culture, continuing to inspire through her engaging presence in sports media.
Meanwhile, Brathwaite, best known for his match-winning four consecutive sixes in the 2016 T20 World Cup final, was also honoured during the ceremony, adding another highlight to a night dedicated to celebrating the BLP's finest talents.
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