Mayers misses NACAC and Panam Games

Sprinter Natasha Mayers will have to wait a while longer before she can return to international competition for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

Banned for two years, Mayers was expected to be part of this country’s squad to the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Open as well as the Pan American Games , but has been ruled out because of injury.

Mayers, 26, fell from grace in June 2005 when she was tested positive for a banned substance in an out of competition in California.

The then International Amateur Athletics Federation swiftly imposed the ban on her; Team Athletics SVG followed suit.

Her transgression was as a result of her having more than twice the legal amount of testosterone in her body.

Mayers who turned professional in 2004, was ranked among the top ten women in the world in the 100m that same year.

She made it to the quarter final round in that event at the 28th edition of the Summer Olympics held in Athens, Greece also in 2004, but was forced out again because of an injury.

The USA based Mayers; this country’s 2004 Sports Personality was slated to participate in both the 100 and 200 m at the two upcoming games.

But while her return is deferred, six athletes will carry the St. Vincent and the Grenadines flag.

The NACAC Open set for July 13-15 in El Salvador will see Pamenos Ballantyne participating in 10,000M, Adonson Shallow, the Discus, Kineke Alexander and Charmant Ollivierre, the 400m, Raffique Providence, the 800m and Courtney Bascombe runs in the 200m.

Another athlete that missed out on the trip because of injury was Casnell Bushay, denying St. Vincent and the Grenadines a shot in the 4 X 400m relay.

All six will journey to Brazil for the PanAm Games scheduled for July 23-29. They, except Ballantyne will duplicate their events at the PanAm outing. Ballantyne will show up in the marathon on July 29.

Gideon Labban has been named coach of the team, with Leroy Llewelyn performing the duties of team manager.(RT)