And then there were two.
The Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation’s (GMMAF) efforts to have six participants at the upcoming World championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, were dashed by a United States Laboratory.
As a result, Ijaz Cave and Corwin D’Anjou will be the only two representatives at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championships billed for January 24 – 29 in Abu Dhabi.
D’Anjou will compete in the Men’s Welterweight (77.1kg) division and Cave in the Men’s Light Heavyweight (93kg) category.
Executive member of the GMMAF, Dr Sawan Jagnarain said yesterday that following a mishap, several important tests that were to be done overseas were not completed on time.
As a result, Webster McRae, Akeem Fraser, Christopher James and John Campayne will be unable to participate at the championships.
Dr. Jagnarain explained that the GYMMAF had solicited the services of a lab in the USA to do the testing since some of the mandatory testing of the athletes by the IMMAF, could not have been done here.
According to Dr. Jagnarain blood samples of the six participants were sent in December but the Lab said that they encountered difficulties and as such were only able to complete the samples of Cave and D’Anjou.
“This is a major blow to all the work the athletes had put in,” GYMMAF president, Gavin Singh said in an invited comment.
According to Singh, he has apologized
to the four athletes on behalf of the GYMMAF.
Meanwhile, the team paid a courtesy call on Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., earlier yesterday.
According to Singh, the minister has been supportive of the GYMMAF since he took office last August and through the National Sports Commission (NSC), the GYMMAF has received support from the Government of Guyana.
Minister Ramson Jr., congratulated those selected and wished them luck.
“All of Guyana is behind you and on behalf of the Government of Guyana; I want to say good luck.
“This is a huge achievement since you will be the first Guyanese to compete at the World Championships. You should be proud and be good ambassadors for Guyana,” Ramson Jr., said.
Guyana will be the only Caribbean country in the UAE, since Trinidad and Tobago withdrew after their representatives tested positive for COVID-19.
Singh praised several companies particularly Banks DIH Ltd., Bounty Farm, Akbar Inc., Sandcorp Development, Zoon, Universal Travel, WR Services, Eureka Labs, Acarai Properties and Northwest Securities for helping to make the team’s trip to the UAE a success.
