– Cash strapped AAG fail to generate funding; likely to be sanctioned
One of Guyana’s most talented junior sprinters Tevin Garraway has been deprived of the earned entitlement of competing at the South American (SA) Youth Championships which will be taking place this weekend in Argentina.
Despite achieving the qualifying standards for both the 100m and 200m, Garraway will miss out on the competition since the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) does not have sufficient funds to send him.
The AAG apparently was unable to generate enough money from corporate Guyana to send Garraway and coach Mark Scott.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport yesterday, Scott said that he was disappointed since he was convinced that Garraway would have seized the opportunity and succeeded in capturing a medal.
“Yes! I would say that I’m real disappointed because Tevin would have been a sure medallist,” Scott said. He added that several letters were sent out to the Government of Guyana as well as various businesses but the response was dismal.
Garraway, who is just 15-years-old, raced to an impressive 100m win in a mind-blowing 10.6 seconds at the SA Youth Championships trials which was held at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary early last month. Garraway also won the 200m in 21.7 seconds at that meet. Both those times were faster than the qualifying standards stipulated by the AAG for the meet.
After selecting Garraway during the first week in September, the AAG had close to two months to generate the requisite funding for Garraway and his coach to attend the competition in Argentina yet they could not. When contacted by Stabroek Sport president of the AAG Colin Boyce admitted that the association is currently experiencing financial difficulties which prevented Garraway’s participation.
Possible sanction from
CONSUDATLE
The AAG had in fact been informed of the date and venue for the competition for more and a year and it was even listed on the calendar of events as a compulsory meet.
Having that meet as a compulsory event, meant that the AAG ought to have budgeted for it to avoid sanctions(which may be in the form of a fine or ban) that will be enforced by the South American Athletics Confederation (CONSUDATLE) for not attending. Apart from having the obligation to attend the meet, the fact that Guyana confirmed participation by submitting Garraway’s preliminary entry, could further affect the severity of the sanction imposed.
