The territory’s leading female athlete Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, has received a six months suspension from the BVI Athletics Association’s Disciplinary Committee in conjunction with the IAAF, after thoroughly investigating the matter where a new dietary supplement he began using—that was neither a stimulant nor performance enhancer—produced an adverse analytical finding during a May 26 Grand Prix meet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The association’s General Secretary received a confidential letter from the IAAF on June 28, indicating that Ms. Harrigan-Scott tested positive at the meeting in Rio de Janeiro. The General Secretary informed Harrigan-Scott of the findings and she immediately began to investigate and later discovered that indeed a supplement she had newly began using as a substitute for a previous supplement that was not available at the time, contained the ingredient in question methylhexanamine, except that as it turned out, the ingredient was listed by an alternative name which is not listed on the World Anti Doping Agency list.
As the substance—neither performance enhancing nor a stimulant—was in her system she had committed an anti doping-violation under IAAF Rule 32.2. She was immediately provisionally suspended under IAAF mandate on July 8.
After the Disciplinary Committee’s investigations and finding and based on IAAF Rule 40.4, the committee made the final decision of a six month suspension effective July 8 and ending January 7, 2012. She can return to national and international competitions thereafter.
The unexpected situation has no way jeopardized or affected her qualifying marks for the London Olympic Games, said the BVIAA statement.
“I know that some of you may be thinking why did you use the supplement in the first place. To be honest, it was a supplement that I used for the first time in May. It was recommend by a sales representative for a supplement I took previously that they didn’t have. Since it was a new supplement I did my normal routine check and when I didn’t see any of the names that was on the container listed on the WADA website, I thought it was ok take,” Ms. Scott-Harrigan said in statement sent to the media. “I would like to apologize for my mistake and any negativity it may have caused you and the people and my country. Even though I wish none of this ever happened, there is nothing I can do to change it. I have to accept and take responsibility for my actions despite my lack of intent to use a banned substance. My next step is to move forward and not let this incident destroy me and my athletic career. I would definitely be more careful and make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.”