Briana Williams (W)

athlete, from Jamaica, born 2002-03-21, 1 sanction

Notes: Ato Boldon has confirmed that Briana Williams has been cleared to run at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Doha, Qatar, from September 27-October 6. The 17-year-old Jamaican sprint starlet, who is coached by Boldon, met for two days with officials of the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel in late September -- just days ahead of athletes leaving the country -- to discuss her failed doping test following the Jamaican Senior Track and Field Championships in June. Williams had been named to the senior team pending a clearance of her case. She ran a wind-legal 10.94 seconds for 100 meters to set a new World Junior (and National High School) Record on June 21-23, finishing third and booking a trip to the World Championships. But she tested positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide following the meet. In ensuing weeks, Williams' legal team battled the positive test, saying it was an over-the-counter tablet she took prior to the meet to combat the flu. She labeled the OTC drug in her protocol at the Championships. This week, according to a recent report by The Star and confirmed by Boldon, Williams was "reprimanded with no period of ineligibility." In a statement released by the IADP, according to The Jamaican Star, "The IADP is unanimously persuaded to the standard of proof that the athlete, Miss Briana Williams, was in breach of article 2.1 of the 2015 Anti-Doping Rules as she had in her body a specified substance named 'HCTZ.' "The IADP finds that the athlete has established no significant fault or negligence as she was given tablets by her guardian and had no intention to cheat in her In-Competition sprint event on June 21, 2019. The IADP was referred to article 10.5.1.1 of the Anti-Doping In Sport Rules and this is relied on its findings." Williams was recommended to an educational program on anti-doping rules.