DOC explains reasons why Dominican boxers not part of Rio Olympics

Leatham (left) and Greenaway have represented Dominica in many regional boxing tournament
Leatham (left) and Greenaway have represented Dominica in many regional boxing tournament

Representative of the Dominica Olympics Committee (DOC), Phillip White has shed light on concerns raised as to why two local boxers were not selected to be part of the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics to be held from the 5-21, August, 2016.

There have been concerns that Charles Leatham and Jamesy Greenaway, who represented Dominica at various competitions in the region, did not make it to Dominica’s boxing team for the Rio games.

But White told Dominica News Online on Monday that Leatham and Greenaway never qualified to participate in the Rio Olympics.

“To qualify for the Rio Olympics, you either had to be involved in the Commonwealth Games which was held in Glasgow or the CAC (Central American and Caribbean) Games in Mexico,” he explained. “None of these boxers, Charles Leatham or Jamesy Greenaway didn’t qualify for those games. They did not meet the criteria to be placed on the long list of potential athletes.”

In fact, he stated, that both boxers travelled to Guyana for the Caribbean Cup in late 2015 and both men lost their fights.

White explained that following the Commonwealth and CAC Games, the Pan American Games (Pan AM) took place in Canada in 2015 and both men did not qualify for those games either.

“You would have had to go into a qualification to go to those games,” he noted. “There was the OECS Games; they did not get any medals, so they did not qualify. Really and truly Charles Leatham and Jamesy Greenaway, they haven’t reached the level to go to the Olympics.”

He said the committee is looking at bringing in a foreign coach to assist the young boxers.

“What we are looking at is maybe getting a foreign coach who can assist the men,” he noted.

Meantime, White said that in 2014 the Dominica Olympics Committee was required to submit what is known as a ‘long list of persons’ who are potentially eligible to qualify for the Olympics, and so Valerian Spicer of the Dominica Boxing Association was the only person who was eligible at that time.

He said Spicer who resides in the United Kingdom will represent Dominica at Rio, “because she had competed in the Commonwealth Games in Glassgow and she had gotten a bronze medal.”

White also revealed that Spicer has received a scholarship from the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and has met the standards that will allow her to continue her preparations to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games

“In the next two weeks she will travel to Argentina for the qualifications for the Olympics. If she meets the standard there then she will go to the games,” White explained.

Valerian Spicer (center) will represent Dominica at the Rio games
Valerian Spicer (center) will represent Dominica at the Rio games. File photo. 

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41 Comments

  1. Charles Leatham
    February 26, 2016

    https://youtu.be/IqG0vWzDMus

    View this link to listen to what Phillip White will not tell you…
    I will be speaking more on this issue….

    Dominica stand up, am doing this for our bright future upcoming generations and all those who were played same way by the same said associations…

  2. Charles Leatham
    February 25, 2016

    Charles Leatham

    Follow my facebook page 4 Seconds Leatham, I will be releasing a video at (8am Feb-26-2016) giving myside of this headline stating what I have to face with these careless People…….

    https://www.facebook.com/4secleatham/

  3. Vada yes me that say that
    February 24, 2016

    Them man does just talk and do .sickness in that country and a eagerness to push and claim that which is not really ours .For how long green away and Charles training partly on there own .with just the dedication of job and a few people no ring nothing .del man do the best they could with little help .now the association coming post that pic and talk that nonsense .boy I vez vez vex until.people allí reading that .the two gentleman are good talent both have won matches overs with minimal training and facility. Imagine what could be done with good push .I have seen the results of all the fights fought by Dominican boxers in regional tournaments and they have been impressive. Those won and lost .

    Congratulations to Greenway and Charles and Mr job for job well done you all did the best you could have done with no resources .no thanks to the so called association bunch of jokers .the way I see it Dominica is not represented .

  4. Marguerite
    February 23, 2016

    Speaking of the Olympics….what happened to Luan Gabriel?

  5. boxing coach
    February 23, 2016

    Gaining a place in the Olympic boxing competition is extremely difficult. You need to win a medal at the qualification tournaments to do so and only world class boxers stand a chance of winning a place. Entering boxers who are not at that level is dangerous, as they could get easily get hurt, so the DOC are essentially doing the right thing here.
    The sad truth though is that not enough is being done to help boxers on the island improve their skills to get to the required level. Talent is not the issue, but success at international level requires facilities and years of elite training, sparring and competition, none of which are available to boxers in Dominica. That’s where the investment should be made to make a real difference.

  6. my name na
    February 23, 2016

    Some of you’ll getting into a topic that you all know nothing about and I jamesy Greenaway is tired of being lied to face off by these guys and behind our backs these are the things they say the question they should address to him is how much effort are they pushing in to us in getting the ranks to qualify for those games no effort at all

  7. Mizz J
    February 23, 2016

    I smell a rat

  8. syncronize
    February 23, 2016

    In the first place, Dominica does not have a Sports Development Plan. What we have is a Talk Plan and Skerrit travelling the world. What a shame. Our country on the map because of criminals purchasing our passports. When will we ever reach the honest top doing positive things for our country and letting us be known on the world map for something good. I have heard so much about sports tourism from Skerrit and his selfish Ministers of Sports and Culture over the years. This Government is a phony government looking for their pockets. Not one Minister crying foul over one man controlling and doing what he want. I am sure these Ministers are dissatisfied with Skerrit but they will not say anything because they are protecting their jobs., But Ministers, mark my words all, yes ALL things WILL come to an end.

  9. Lingkokwing University alumni
    February 23, 2016

    They need to step their game up. Dominica is SERIOUSLY lagging when it comes to sports and athletic representation in sports outside of Dominica…money for all kinds of fete and sewo while real talent suffers. Smh.

  10. Samantha
    February 23, 2016

    So why is there an issue? Am confused. Who were the concerned parties that prompted this explanation? This story just embarasses the two boxers. SMH.

  11. Samantha
    February 23, 2016

    So why is there an issue? Am confused.

  12. February 23, 2016

    I personally don’t believe anything coming from the DOC. you my ask why because like many things which they have said before is just plain out lies. none of them at the top have not supported of young people over the last 20 years, do u remember 1996 games how many people we had there. where is Luan Gabriel from the London games. where is she now, what we heading backwards instead

    • February 24, 2016

      My thing is Mr. White and the rest of the DOC you all have fail the young people once again, these games comes but every 4 years and what have you done nothing to help those guys. No structure for training to develop there game you have not taken those guys on board to send them overseas to train. it is plain you guys in the DOC are old minds and cannot help to develop any form of sports in Dominica. You all a bunch of FAILURES

  13. an
    February 23, 2016

    repetitive article

  14. Titiwi
    February 23, 2016

    Valerian Spicer is Dominican through her mother ( she has an English father) but did apparently did not apply for a Dominican passport till some time in 2013. Her age is against her – she will be 36 at the time of the Games in Rio and her performance has been variable. She failed to win a medal at the last Commonwealth games and that counts against her also. Still, her presence in Rio will give Dominica exposure and I do hope she beats the odds and will progress to a medal position.

  15. Know Your Role
    February 23, 2016

    Mr White, you have made a lot of excuses in your article and the truth must reveal. I am sure that Charles and James have a story to tell. Mr White, tell the public the real reason Charles and James did not win any fights that should qualify them to the Olympics….tell the truth. The truth will reveal. I smell a rat here…

  16. Ok..
    February 23, 2016

    The training received in Dominica can’t compare to other places in the world…. if they didn’t qualify they didn’t qualify but at least they should get and opportunity to train in the states and be ready represent Dominica at cups …. anyway not like the government gives attention to sports…. I mean we have many talented athletes in Dominica and not one track …what sense bring down a coach just give them a scholarship…

  17. Yinka
    February 23, 2016

    It already turn that way!…think is something they drinking in the water!

  18. litch
    February 22, 2016

    :?:

  19. litch
    February 22, 2016

    :wink:

  20. wow
    February 22, 2016

    8-O

  21. Concerned about dominican boxers future
    February 22, 2016

    He may be true but not totally right, I going to correct some point with fact.
    1) “QUOTE”
    He said Spicer who resides in the United Kingdom will represent Dominica at Rio, “because she had competed in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and she had gotten a bronze medal.”

    “FACTS SHOW”
    She did not medal at all, just to ease you from researching I gathered the information for you.

    This link shows her profile in Glasgow
    http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/boxing/1039668/v_spicer.html

    “BBC SPORTS REPORT LINK”
    a) http://www.bbc.com/sport/commonwealth-games/28559816
    b) Walsh, 21, became Northern Ireland\’s first female Games boxing medalist before Audley-Murphy\’s win over Dominica\’s Valerian Spicer.
    c) Audley-Murphy was involved in a close contest with Spicer and won on a split decision in her first bout of the Games.
    d) Boxing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Women\’s lightweight CHART
    1. https://en.wikipedia

    • Me
      February 23, 2016

      You are right, Valerian did not win a medal at the Commonwealth Games. Our Olympic Committee is scraping the barrel again to justify a cosy life and another junket, to Rio this time (…perhaps they take their wives too?).

  22. nano
    February 22, 2016

    :evil:

  23. Concerned about dominican boxers future
    February 22, 2016

    1) “QUOTE”
    He said Spicer who resides in the United Kingdom will represent Dominica at Rio, “because she had competed in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and she had gotten a bronze medal.”

    “FACTS SHOW”
    She did not medal at all, just to ease you from researching I gathered the information for you.

    This link shows her profile in Glasgow
    http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/boxing/1039668/v_spicer.html

    “BBC SPORTS REPORT LINK”
    a) http://www.bbc.com/sport/commonwealth-games/28559816
    b) Walsh, 21, became Northern Ireland\’s first female Games boxing medalist before Audley-Murphy\’s win over Dominica\’s Valerian Spicer.
    c) Audley-Murphy was involved in a close contest with Spicer and won on a split decision in her first bout of the Games.
    d) Boxing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Women\’s lightweight CHART
    1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_at_the_2014_Commonwealth_Games_%E2%80%93_Women\’s_lightweight

  24. brown eyes
    February 22, 2016

    how can they qualify when you hardly send them out and fight

  25. foward
    February 22, 2016

    these two guys made me know boxing exist in Dominica more should be done for them

  26. king boxer
    February 22, 2016

    stop telling lies

  27. nano
    February 22, 2016

    na man there was 3 of us at OECS Championship we all got meddles de guy said we did not get none poor you my boy lies they are not good at all

  28. nano
    February 22, 2016

    i think the people should hear from the boxers and not the lies these people tell

  29. 007
    February 22, 2016

    Ok the Doc is full of crap. I read an article almost 2year ago where it was mentioned that this woman from England would represent Dominica in Rio. So they did what they had to do. The sad part is she tried to represent England and she didn’t qualify to do that so she turn to Dominica.

  30. Dan Tanner
    February 22, 2016

    In other news, there’s a Dominica Olympic Committee.

  31. Righteous
    February 22, 2016

    The DOC is a joke. The qualifying standards must be stated and given to every association and athletes as soon as the various governing bodies have set those standards. These guys travel to all these conferences to have fun at the expense of the athletes. No information is ever shared when they attend these sessions; maybe because they never actually attend those meetings. We need a few good men and women to step up to the plate and challenge these clowns at the next general election to form an executive that cares about the athletes and the athletes progress/success.

    Enough of mybias, yourbias, frombias tobias etc. We need fresh blood in this DOC. Remember the London Saga?

    #OLD

  32. Music Producer
    February 22, 2016

    “None of these boxers, Charles Leatham or Jamesy Greenaway didn’t qualify for those games.” What’s with the double negative? That statement translates into both men qualifying. :?: Alas!

  33. interesting
    February 22, 2016

    So didn’t the DOC know that when the same members their now use to make the same case that the boxers are doing now what hypocrisy.

  34. Javed
    February 22, 2016

    I thought Mr. White had retired and was a rep. for the Red Cross. The DOC’s role among others should be to update its membership. Well its probably about five years the DOC doesn’t have any membership. Billy, Emmanuel and the Rest, there probably is still time to rescue the DOC.

  35. Bwa Bwa
    February 22, 2016

    Sports Administration in Dominica needs a major reshuffle. The D.O.C., The various associations, the sports division ……. like the tag word goes …. the stake holders….. Mr. Joseph Thomas! What the ……. you doing about the contract you received? When are you going to finish? Oh my lovely Dominica, those administrators are making your heart bleed. I feel your pain!!!!

  36. hmmmm
    February 22, 2016

    so why did the boxing association make noise in the first place…..
    they know its not wash your foot and come….
    they know u have to qualify…..

    so why is there an issue for in the first place ?

    • Independent Observer
      February 23, 2016

      Well, if the boxing association makes noise without doing its home-work no wonder the sport of boxing is in the state it is in. In DA everyone feels that are world class level without being tried and proven.

  37. real possie
    February 22, 2016

    That’s understandable, hope this don’t turn political which I know it will.

    • nano
      February 22, 2016

      its not your fault but that’s a lie and still he haven answered the question that’s not really the reason the real reason is that these guys aint interested in boxing in dominica they only put all there focus towards that girl and pay no interest in Dominican boxers

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