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JAAA says travel ticket not the reason for Seville’s withdrawal
April 28, 2026
The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has denied reports claiming reigning men's 100m World Champion Oblique Seville's withdrawal from the World Athletics Relays arose over a dispute regarding airfare.
Seville was listed as one of Jamaica's representatives for the men's 4x100m relay at the upcoming World Relays, but the athlete later withdrew.
The JAAA, in a press release yesterday, dismissed the claims and said there was no dispute regarding the price of his ticket.
"We have seen comments from sections of the media stating that arising from a dispute between the JAAA and Oblique Seville regarding the price of his ticket, it has resulted in the athlete having to withdraw from Jamaica's team to the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana," the JAAA statement read.
"This is factually inaccurate.... There was never an impasse between agents acting on behalf of Oblique Seville and the JAAA regarding payment for travel tickets."
SCHEDULING CONFLICT
The JAAA explained Seville's withdrawal had come from a scheduling conflict with the athlete that was not resolved in time for the World Relays.
The association stated they had received a written notice from Seville's manager, Norman Peart, notifying them of his decision to withdraw as well as his commitment to be available for further selection.
"There was an issue regarding the earliest date that he could return to Miami in order to meet a contractual obligation," the JAAA stated.
"His agent was advised that the earliest possible date on available flights, that would allow him to return to Miami was on May 5, 2026, after midday. We therefore could not guarantee an earlier return," the association continued.
"On April 21, we received a written notice from Oblique's manager, Norman Peart, of the withdrawal of Oblique Seville from the World Relays Team."
Seville is not the only Jamaican athlete to have withdrawn from the World Relays, as world 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson, Roshawn Clarke and Tajh Marques-White have also pulled out of the Jamaica squad.
The World Relays is set to be held at the Botswana National Stadium in Gabarone on May 2 and May 3.
