Knight said that the management of the team met with Ms. Williams on 21st July, one week before being sent home. He added however that quite a number of meetings were in fact held with the athlete to discuss the issue.
The Vice President stated that management had 1 on 1 meetings with each team member and he believes that is when Tameka would have again made the admission of using the substance that is now believed to be outside the circle of what is allowed. But he also revealed that she had made such admission verbally, since back in St. Kitts and before being selected to the team.
Knight said The NOC consulted widely, including the National Anti-Doping Organization, (NADO) in St. Kitts, headed by Leroy Greene. NADO in turn would have also consulted their regional counterparts, who would have also contacted the international body known as WADA. St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic officials in London also consulted with WADA officials there at the games.
“In my own mind the circumstances that began to probably unfold is probably what made that athlete come forward. Again in due respect of the athlete herself, I would not want to divulge those circumstances, at this point. But it was those circumstances that made the athlete eventually come forward.”
Knight said he cannot say if she was using the substance in Russia. The VP Explained that Tameka had some time before verbalize the admission to the NOC; but it takes time to investigate and look into such matters and the NOC preferred to have taken her to the Games until the investigations dictated otherwise.
The NOC executive member indicated that they preferred to have had her in London rather than just acting on a whim. They preferred to have dotted all Ts and crossed all Is. Knight stated that the NOC could not have simply say they suspected and were not sure; and leave her home, so they took her.
He said they had to make a judgement call at the time and that call was to take her along while they do their investigations.
Though tested in Russia, there was no positive response. But knight said if she is eventually found to have used a substance she could lose those medals.
“She would be in danger of losing her medals and time from Russia.”
He also said he was not aware that Tameka asked to be tested in London
With respect to threats of being sued, the NOC VP said his organization is not worried because they have not made any statement that they cannot support with facts. “She admitted and signed the declaration that she had used the substance,” stated Knight.
Knight said he could not speak specifically for the athlete. “Who knows what are the motives in the first place, that would drive athletes to use these substances; whether of their own accord; whether the influence of other persons, whether they feel the pressure to perform … I think the individual has to give their own response to that.
Williams has so far elected not to add to her statement that was made last Saturday while on her way back to St. Kitts.