BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - Two British athletes have thrown their support behind Kim Collins who will not have the opportunity to run at the biggest track and field event of the season, the World Championships in Moscow, after he failed to meet selection criteria of the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA).
Speaking to the Voice of Sport, British sprinter Jeanette Kwakye explained why she, along with fellow Brit Tyrone Edgar, had signed an online petition to let the popular Collins run.
“I think that it is really important for a man like Kim Collins to run because I think at the age of 37 he is in the shape of his life and he epitomises what a healthy, clean athlete can do later on in their career.
“He’s a great role model for aspiring sprinters as well as current sprinters, so that’s why I signed the petition.”
Kwakye added: “I just hope what they (SKNAA) are doing doesn’t constitute restraint of trade. I would hate to think that he is being denied the opportunity to earn a living.
“Everybody loves Kim, he’s everybody’s favourite athlete and I think it would be good for the sport if he was allowed to run and this situation was resolved amicably and not in the courts.”
The bitterness between Collins and the SKNAA surfaced when he was withdrawn from competition by his team’s officials as punishment for staying overnight in a hotel with his wife.
Public Relations Officer of the SKNAAA Evris Huggins declared that in order for an athlete to gain selection to represent the Federation, he or she must satisfy the requisite procedure, which Collins did not.
“To be eligible for selection, athletes must participate in the set SKNAAA National Championships or must have received an exemption from the SKNAAA Executive body upon receipt of a written request for a waiver one month prior to the National Championships.”
