Coming out of the recently concluded North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Under-18 (U18) and Under-23 (U23) Championships at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San José, Costa Rica, in which The Bahamas had its second best performance ever, there were reports of misconduct and insubordination involving Bahamian athletes.

There were also reports of six athletes, five of which are of the minor category (U18), being suspended from competition for a significant period.

When pressed on the matter on Wednesday, Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) President Drumeco Archer simply said that certain matters are under investigation and that the findings of those investigations will be made public in due time.

"We are dealing with issues with athletes and there are matters that are under investigation," said Archer. "We have a board (executive board) that is responsible and acts in the best interest of the sport and the athletes. Sometimes, there is a minority making the most noise, but we can stand on the principles that we have put in place and we are satisfied with our position."

There were reports that the senior athlete who was suspended was sprinter Terrence Jones and that he would, consequently, miss the 19th World Athletics Championships, set for August 19-27, 2023, at the National Athletics Centre, in Budapest, Hungary.

The news of a possible suspension to Jones spread like wildfire on Wednesday, with the majority backing the rising Bahamian star athlete. Jones is a double qualifier for the world championships, reaching the required standards in the men's 100 and 200 meters (m). With blazing personal best times of 9.91 seconds and 19.87 seconds in the short sprints, both ran this year, and with the former tying Derrick Atkins' 12-year-old national record, Jones has exploded on the track and field scene, locally, regionally and internationally.

He is a top 10 sprinter globally in both events for 2023, and is the new big thing in Bahamian athletics.

According to reports, Jones was suspended for actions that depicted lackluster effort, a resistance and refusal to compete and cooperate with team officials, a refusal to celebrate with teammates and a lack of desire to represent one's country.

He issued an apology to teammates in Costa Rica, team coaches and managers, the BAAA and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture stating that he was not in a good place, having lost his grandmother and uncle in the span of a year, and also dealing with nagging injuries. He said he regrets the incidents in Costa Rica.

As it relates to the five junior athletes, it was reported that they were issued suspensions from BAAA-sanctioned competitions, pending an appeals process, through the conclusion of the 51st CARIFTA Games from March 30 to April 1, 2024, at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in St. George's, Grenada.

Those suspensions have also been lifted.

There is no doubt that there were a few unfortunate situations involving Bahamian athletes, off the track, in Costa Rica, and will be dealt with accordingly, but the BAAA appears focused on the two national teams that will represent The Bahamas this week.

A 16-member team left for the Pan American Under-20 (U20) Athletics Championships in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, yesterday afternoon and the world championships will travel to Budapest, Hungary, in a couple weeks.

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