Olympic discus thrower Traves Smikle has revealed a positive drug test, becoming the fourth Jamaican athlete exposed to be doping, although he denied that he did not knowingly ingested a banned substance.
Smikle has joined his Jamaican compatriot Asafa Powell and American sprint star Tyson Gay in the latest athletes exposed to be doping.
According to Smikle, the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) had notified him that his urine sample from the Jamaica National Trials in June returned a positive finding of a banned substance, The Guardian reports.
Although the athlete did not identify the substance for which he tested positive, he however, took responsibility for the results of drug test, although he insisted that he did not knowingly or willingly ingest any banned substance.
Smikle, who competed for Jamaica at last year's London Olympics but did not make the final, further said that he is disappointed and surprised by the findings, as he had never attempted to cheat and have always considered himself an ambassador for the sport and a strong supporter of drug testing.
Smikle also said that he regretted the 'hurt and embarrassment' that his failed test had caused to his country, which is yet to recover from the shock of the news of positive tests from two high-profile sprinters, 100 metres record-holder Asafa Powell and relay silver medallist Sherone Simpson and his fellow discus thrower Allison Randall.
Although the report said that the all the athletes have confirmed doping violations from the Jamaican trials, they, however, have all denied intentionally taking a banned substance.
Smikle has requested analysis of his 'B' sample and was willing to work with JADCO in any investigation to get this matter dealt with in the best way possible, the report added.
