The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH Olympian and multiple Bahamian national record holder Joanna Evans being sidelined with a two-year ban for a drug violation that will run through February 12, 2024, Bahamas Aquatics has stepped forth and given her their full support in her quest to be vindicated.

“Bahamas Aquatics stands firmly in support of Joanna Evans and thanks her for her years of contribution to Bahamian swimming, her outstanding medal performances and the global respect she brought to our small country as a swimming powerhouse,” BA president Algernon Cargill said.

“We fully understand the importance of clean sports and do not support cheating in any way. We are confident that Ms Evans did not willingly take a banned substance and note for record keeping that the substance found in her system was so miniscule that it could not and did not impact her performance in any way.“

“As she started, she bought a tropical cream from a pharmacy in Italy and through my discussions with an international physician, I am advised that this drug is commonly sold in tropical cream in Italy,” Cargill said.

“Ms Evans had never heard of the banned substance in the cream she bought and simply expected it to be a regular antibiotic cream and this has resulted in the situation we now face. We encourage Ms Evans to fully explore the appeals process available to her though the Court of Arbitration for Sports.”

On February 15, Evans was given the two-year ban on a test conducted by a World Anti-Doping Agency representer in Austin, Texas, on December 3, 2021.

The Grand Bahamian native’s test was positive for the banned substance Clostebol she indicated that she got in the medication in Naples, Italy.

Cargill said he did a brief google check of recent cases and discovered that there were lesser or really no punishments for more significant cases.

In Evans’ case, she claimed that she cut her finger on a “jagged, rusty balcony at the hotel” where she was staying and she got the antibiotic cream at a local pharmacy.

Evans, the Bahamian national record holder in the women’s 200, 400 and 800 metres freestyle races, said she was given a tube of Trofodermin, which was similar to the antibiotic Neomycin.

She indicated that she was unaware that the cream contained Clostebol.

On her return to Austin on October 30, 2021, Evans said she fell on a concrete pavement and received a gash on her knee.

She used the same cream Trofodermin to treat her wound several times until the end of November, 2021.

“Ms Evans’ performance was in no way enhanced by any drug, and the global attention and respect she has brought to our country has been only through her hard work, training and commitment to clean sports,” Cargill said.

“Again, we stand firmly in support of her and believe that she should fully pursue the appeals process in order to clean her good name.”

As a result of the two-year ban. the 25-year-old Evans has had her recent results from five International Swimming League (ISL) events and the 15th FINA Short Course Swimming Championships in 2021 nullified.

In defence of Evans, Cargill is calling on the public to support her through their prayers and encouragement as she endures this most difficult period.

“Her life has turned upside down and it is only through God’s guidance and the support of her family and friends that she has made it thus far,” Cargill stated.

For persons wishing to assist Evans in her ordeal, Cargill said they can make their donation in care of Joanna Evans to the Bahamas Aquatics at info@bahamasaquatics.com or deposit at Royal Bank of Canada account transit 05745, account number 1034073, Bahamas Swimming Federation.

“We assure every donor that your pledges will be given to her at 100 percent,” he stated.

“She has to retain the very best attorneys in order to present the best case in order to clear her name and not bring any reputation damage to our sport, our federation, and our country,” Cargill added.