Not so fast ISSA!

The "Much to do about nothing" comment from Keith Wellington President of the Inter Secondary Schools Secondary Sports Association (ISSA), regarding Kingston College's breach of the quota rule at the Boys and Girls Championships has rubbed many persons the wrong way.

Keith Wellington

During the championships it was revealed via a protest from a competing school that Kingston College, exceeded their quota of transferred athletes in class one.

Under ISSA’s amended rules in January 2023, schools are only allowed to utilize two transferred athletes per class.

This breach of the quota limit pointed out by the competing school, then led ISSA to begin the process of taking action in accordance with the established rules and guidelines.

The original athlete in question, Jurel Clement from Grenada, who won the Decathlon event on Wednesday, was initially entered as a non quota athlete, by virtue of an argument that he began classes at KC before the new ISSA rule came into effect in September 2023.

Upon investigation, Kingston College made reference to documentation they had sent to ISSA, plus an alleged verbal confirmation from an ISSA official, that it was okay for Clement to compete at Champs as a non quota athlete.

At the conclusion of the investigation, ISSA then agreed that that there was indeed a breach, but not with Clement, instead with another athlete Dylan Logan.

Jurel Clement (left) Dylan Logan (right)

Incidentally, Logan who would have been the third of the quota athlete to compete, participated in the discus event but did not secure a point. He was also listed to compete in the shot put.

In line with ISSA's rule that says if an athlete breaks the quota rule, then any points secured would be removed, and the athlete would not take any further part in the championships .

So in essence KC's punishment for the breach was the removal of zero points while Logan would take no further part in Champs.

With this fact out of the way, and when questioned on the ruling, ISSA's President Keith Wellington in his explanation made the comment its "Much to do about nothing".

With that being said nonetheless, ISSA needs to answer a few questions before we let the "Much to do about nothing" comment laid to rest.

1. Is ISSA aware that Jurel Clement while attending school at Hillsborough, Grenada in April 2023 allegedly, was also registered by KC the same month?

2. Is ISSA aware that Clement allegedly went to his last class in fourth form at Hillsborough in June 2023?

3. Was the letter that was sent by KC to ISSA on January 25 this year, seeking advice on Clement's participation, only came to light after a protest was filed by a competing school?

4. Is it true that the alleged verbal confirmation from an ISSA Officer of Clement's eligibility was the grounds on which KC used to register the athlete?

5. If this is so, then why did ISSA not give a written confirmation to KC that it is ok for Clement to participate as a non quota athlete, and on what basis was a clearance granted?

7. What was different in the information the protesting school provided that ISSA did not have before that classified Clement a quota athlete?

Moreover, the perception that KC's knack of getting away after rule breaches with a pat on the back over the past few years is something of concern for many.

Reference to Ugandan Ari Rogers in 2016 who was given a bligh by ISSA to compete after claims of extenuating circumstances. However when Jamaica College had a similar and an even stronger case in 2024, they were rejected.

In 2023 Nicardo Clarke of KC violently attacked his Calabar opponent Khamani Gordon after the class two 100 meters final, following a mid race collision which had Clarke missing out on a podium spot.

Clarke was rightfully expelled, however the athlete was reinstated after a protest, and this did not go down well with many including title sponsors Grace Kennedy, who had threatened that they would pull their sponsorship arising out of this and other actions of indiscipline in the said championship.

In conclusion, ISSA will need to be careful because what will happen if a similar situation comes up next year and based on a ruling, people will now say you did that for KC last year and you will not want situations like these to be consistently occurring.

So it is important that a very clear understanding is provided to the layman as to why certain decisions are made, and not leave the door open for speculations and conjecture over and over again; as this will lead to the continued erosion whether perceived or real to the reputation of ISSA.