JOA president rejects claim about withholding future accreditation for shot put thrower

Jamaica Olympic Association president Christopher Samuda has refuted claims that the body would not grant an accreditation to shot put thrower Danniel Thomas-Dodd for another Olympic Games should she not retract statements she made about a lack of support for field events. 

READ: Thomas-Dodd speaks out after missing out on shot put final

Samuda dismissed the claim while speaking in an interview following a ceremony where three former Jamaican athletes were presented with their upgraded medals from previous Olympic Games arising from disqualifications.

The ceremony was held at Champions Park at Trocadeo Gardens.

A local media house reported that the association would not issue an accreditation to Thomas-Dodd for future games in response to criticisms made regarding her insufficient preparation for the women's shot put yesterday as well as lack of support for field athletes. 

When the matter was put to him, Samuda immediately rejected the claim. 

"Certainly not. That was not in my vocabulary," Samuda told The Gleaner. 

Furthermore, he told reporters that support under the Olympic solidarity scholarship, of which she is a beneficiary, would still be available to her. 

"If it is a matter that Mr Walker reported that I think you should interview him and allow him to retract. Mr Walker had asked me in relation to the Olympic solidarity scholarship if she would be considered for the future and I said once she satisfies the criteria," Samuda said. 

"Vindictiveness is not in the vocabulary of myself and the JOA."

Thomas-Dodd had expressed frustration after her exit from the women’s shot put qualification round, citing problems with her coach being accredited as well as a lack of support for field events. 

"We are the most looked down event in Jamaica. And they keep forgetting it is not just track, it is track and field. You need to invest more. Whether it be time or effort in making sure all of your athletes are comfortable," Thomas-Dodd said yesterday.

Jamaica has won six medals at the Paris Olympics, five of which have come from field events.

- Daniel Wheeler

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