Clunis’ situation ‘unfortunate’ ­– Watts

PARIS, France:

Jamaica's track and field athletics manager at the Olympic Games, Ludlow Watts, has reiterated their commitment in doing everything it takes for Nayoka Clunis to still compete at the Olympics.

Watts was speaking upon his arrival with a contingent of Jamaican athletes yesterday at Gare de L'est station from their pre Olympic camp in Stuttgart, Germany.

Clunis was left off Jamaica's Olympic roster because of an administrative error, despite achieving qualification through the world rankings.

An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) ad hoc division determined that it was outside of its jurisdiction therefore the case could not be fought on its merit.

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has claimed that the administrative error was caused during the passage of Hurricane Beryl. However, when asked whether Clunis was the only person who had the error, Watts said that the situation was "unfortunate".

"Each time that you would send the list you would have to check and recheck for whatever not being in place. In her case I think it was just an unfortunate matter. But I think that we have done enough to ensure that there is a resolution in place," Watts said.

Furthermore, Watts said that there has been communication with Clunis during the process.

"We have spoken to her personally on numerous occasions. Whatever information that you have suggests otherwise is not correct," Watts said.

The JAAA has come under fire for the handling of the situation as Clunis launched a gofundme to raise funds to appeal her case to the general CAS body, not their ad hoc division.

Sports lawyer Dr Emir Crowne, who was one of the attorneys representing Clunis, refuted the JAAA's claim that all has been done in the process, in a social media post on Tuesday.

"Gentle reminder that the JAAA, the respondent in the CAS ad hoc division proceedings, did not file any written submission. Is this their idea of making every effort?" Crowne questioned.

Clunis is running out of time as the women's hammer throw begins on August 4.