Following a series of infractions in the recent past, national badminton player Nekeisha Blake was suspended by her club FMT for a period of five weeks, from July 18 -August 22.
It is understood that Blake emailed the secretary of the T&T Badminton Association (TTBA), stating the national senior coach did not want to train with her.
Blake stated that she would deal with the officials of the Association. Through emails to players and clubs, she has publicly made a number of false accusations against the officials and brought the association into disrepute. With no satisfaction in sight, she took to social media and continued her tirade to make an example of the Badminton Association.
The Board of the T&T Badminton Association has been advising her through her club representatives of the consequences of breaching the provisions of the Constitution with respect to bringing the Association into disrepute.
She then sought to bring the TTBA into further disrepute by misrepresenting the facts and maligning the Association on local television.
The Badminton Association having reviewed its options under its constitution referred the matter to its Disciplinary Committee. Two meetings were convened at which Blake failed to present herself to be heard and answer the charges laid against her. An additional meeting was held with the president of Blake’s club to seek a resolution on her behalf but this attempt also bore no fruit.
As such, the Disciplinary Committee after deliberate and careful consideration pertaining to all the evidence, concluded with a decision that Blake be banned indefinitely from participating in any future badminton related activities effective from August 20.
Blake claims she is being victimised and there are a lot of governance issues that need to be addressed where the T&T Badminton Association is concerned.