CARIFTA GAMES 2025: AAG claims ‘protocols followed’ as Mixed Relay team disallowed

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – April 19, 2025 – The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) wishes to address the unfortunate situation regarding our Mixed 4x400m relay team at the 52nd CARIFTA Games in Trinidad and Tobago.

The AAG followed standard protocols regarding the submission of our team for the event. Our team, consisting of Tianna Springer, Malachi Austin, Narissa McPherson, and Afi Blair, was submitted at 17:20h to the technical manager.

This submission was initially accepted.

However, we were subsequently informed that our submission was deemed late, as it did not meet a purported deadline of 17:15h.

Consequently, the competitions director informed our management that the team could not be entered.

The scheduled start time for the Mixed 4x400m relay was 19:10h. Our submission was made a full one hour and thirty-five minutes prior to the race.

World Athletics rules stipulate that team submissions are permitted up to one hour before.

Regrettably, the AAG was not formally informed of this alteration, which seemingly moved the deadline to two hours before the event.

The AAG management was only added to the technical team’s WhatsApp group, where such crucial information is disseminated, this evening, after the submission was made.

Upon being informed of the disqualification, the AAG promptly filed an official appeal at 18:06h.

Despite the significant time between our appeal and the race, the jury of appeal responded just before the event, upholding the directive of the competitions director and denying our appeal. Furthermore, our request to have the team run under protest was also denied.

The AAG wishes to highlight that according to the Games’ manual, the first call for relays is scheduled for 58 minutes before the event, and the final call is 38 minutes before the event, with teams required to arrive no later than 10 minutes prior.

Our athletes were fully prepared, warmed up, and ready to compete for Guyana.

The AAG is deeply disappointed by this situation, particularly given that our athletes followed the instructions provided at the time of submission.

We believe that a lack of clear and timely communication regarding the altered rules has unfairly impacted our team and denied our talented athletes the opportunity to compete.

We remain hopeful that a resolution can be found and will continue to advocate for our athletes.”