BBFF Chief Sumner Says Mackey Getting Ready For Championships

Date: 13-09-2006 Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamBahamas

By Gerrino Saunders
With two weeks to go before the start of the of the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, ongoing preparation for The Bahamas 12-member team "looks quite well and the team is in high gear," according to Danny Sumner, President of The Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation.
However, there might be a concern. It has been reported that there is a delay in receiving the results of the urine samples for National Female Heavyweight champion Gena Mackey, which could possibly prevent her from competing.

On Tuesday, Sumner elected not to comment on the matter saying that it has been "blown out of proportion."

He said, "I can tell you this much. Gena Mackey is on the national team, and she is preparing herself to compete in Jamaica at the championships."

Asked if there is a question of Mackey testing positive for a banned substance he said "Like is said there is nothing really to discuss about that. There is nothing derogatory to say, and all I can say is she is getting herself ready for competition."

At the 2005 championships, Mackey earned two silver medals, one in the women’s heavyweight division and another in the mixed pairs competition teamed with Raymond Tucker.

In order to compete at the CAC Championships all athletes must present the organizers with a doping pass indicating that their system is free of banned performance enhancing substances.

The championships will run from September 28-30 with approximately 20 countries and over 100 athletes from around the region.

In 2005 in Miami, Florida a small 10-member team from The Bahamas captured seven medals and finished third.

"This year we are hoping to improve on last year’s performance and win the whole thing to get back to where we were," said Sumner.

Sumner said he expects to see a marked improvement from the fitness team that includes Lizette McKinney, Samantha Sweeting and Dominique Wilkinson.

"Some aspects of the preparation especially financially have been challenging, but basically we have committed to assisting the athlete financially and however else possible," said Sumner.

Continuing he said, "We have already spent in excess of over $2,000 on just supplements alone for the athletes. So we are doing all that we can to make sure that the athletes are prepared physically for this contest."

He said in terms of travel to Jamaica, tickets for all of the athletes have been secured, but that there are one or two things in the way of assistance that they are still looking forward to receiving.

"From a federation’s point of view, financially, it is always difficult in getting a team prepared for international championship," he said.

Sumner thanked the government through the Ministry of Youth Sports and Housing for its assistance.

Team coach and competitor Nardo Dean said, "I think the time has passed when world class athletes who represent The Bahamas around the world should be standing on the corner with a five gallon jug begging funds to help get to a competition to represent the country."

"We know the government and the federation cannot do it all. Many of the athletes exhaust their personal finances to achieve optimum results.

"I think we need corporate Bahamas to think about adjusting the way they spend money designated to help in the community and other events. Instead of sponsoring a dance hall contest and things like that, I think their money would be better spent investing in the development and exposure of the country and in the long run the business community would benefit," said Darling.

Some of the other members of the team include National Men’s Champion Jay Darling, veteran Raymond Tucker, Paul Wilson, Charmain McNabb and Fay Rolle.

Derek Bullard owner of Mystical Fitness Gym will be the team manager, with Quintine Gray and Clifford Seymour traveling as assistant coaches.