And so it has proved. The five have been confirmed to have used 4-methyl-2-hexanamine, constituents of a nasal decongestant.

Since it’s not on the banned list, a suspension seemed a non-issue, but the case raised intriguing questions: Why was the test programme looking for something that’s not banned? Was it a diuretic being used to flush something more sinister from the system?

It’s routinely in non-prescription medication, so there were few alarm bells. It was therefore no surprise yesterday when the world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations, confirmed to The Herald that they’re now waiting for written confirmation from the Jamaican Amateur Athletics Association that the five athletes have been judged innocent of any doping offence.

So all clear, then, to compete at the World Championships which open in Berlin on Saturday?

Well, perhaps not, because the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) disagrees with the verdict of its own committee. JADCO feel an offence may have occured, despite their colleagues having cleared Yohan Blake (the world’s fastest teenager, 9.93), Marvin Anderson (fourth in their trials), Allodin Fothergill and Lansford Spence. The case against Commonwealth 100m champion Sheri-Ann Brooks, third in the Jamaican trials, had already been dismissed because of procedural irregularities verging on farce. 
All five remain in the Berlin team.

JADCO’s concern is that 4-methyl-2-hexanamine has a similar structure to tuaminoheptane. Often known as tuamine, it’s a nasal decongestant and stimulant. More pertinently, since last year it has been on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency, to which JADCO is a signatory. So once more we seem set for the ritual skirmishing between scientists, lawyers, and athletics officialdom.

This paper flagged up this posibility on July 27. Michelle Verroken, former head of UK Sport anti-doping programme, warned that while the substance was absent from any list of banned substances, it could be covered by the WADA catch-all, of a compound related to something which is proscribed.

Spot-on, Michelle.

The IAAF was waiting yesterday for official written documentation from Jamaica. “Until we get it, the identity of the five individuals will not be mentioned by us,” said a spokesman. “That’s the protocol.”

The documents will go before the IAAF doping review board: chairman Lamine Diack, Bob Hersh (a Harvard law graduate), and another long-time council member, 1966 Commonwealth 880 yards champion Abby Hoffman.

It seems inconceivable that the IAAF could have a guilty verdict from JADCO and an innocent one from the JAAA on the table, and not act. Transparency is paramount. Credibility would be destroyed.

If they back JADCO, a provisional suspension, debarring the five from Jamaica’s squad in Berlin, pending referral to the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, seems the inevitable outcome.

Athletes are not obliged to a have a pharmacology or law degree, but when those who sit in judgement do have such qualifications yet still cannot agree, what chance have ordinary mortals?

Athletics may be discredited by five more drug positives, but so is the anti-doping system.

n And another thing …

Canoeing coaching also seems headed for turbulent waters. You’d think there can be little wrong with a sport which has punched above its weight in recent years, with two Olympic silver medals by Scots and a high quota in GB teams. Yet the new UK Coaching Certificate has alienated a significant number of existing senior coaches.

It’s had such a negative effect that dangerous interest has been ignited by a near-jocular suggestion that a new coaching association, independent of the British Canoe Union and UK Sport, is appropriate. Wales withdrew a threat to quit the UK certification scheme only when a review was granted last week.

Opposition is characterised by the formation of Clubs and Coaches for Change (CCC) who want direct input to the as-yet unspecified terms of the review, and to the review itself which opens on September 5.

The SCU said last night that all 15,000 UK coaches including 1280 in Scotland, will have input. SCU chief executive Stuart Smith denied suggestions that coaches trained under previous programmes would have the qualification taken away.

CCC co-ordinator Jim Breen, a coach for more than 30 years and a former member of the SCU council, reports more than 800 responses from anxious enthusiasts and parties pressing for review.

He says that despite reassurances, and being qualified to the highest level, he cannot introduce people to the sport without expensive retraining in craft which he has no intention of teaching in.

Stewart Harris, the sportscotland ceo, says quality coaching is essential for sport development at all levels, and points out that uniquely among Home Country sports agencies, sportscotland offers governing bodies up to 75% funding for coaches in all sports to take the new UKCC qualification.

It is inconceivable that the IAAF could have a guilty verdict from JACDO on the table and not act

Decongestant is once again clogging up the interpretation of doping