The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbw@tribunemedia.net

ONE athlete remains on the world list, while others have been placed on probation based on their performances or actions of their federation for the

The list, according to Director of Sports Kelsie Johnson-Sills, has been changed with a three-month increment payment with the first plan retroactive to June and paid out this month.

The tier breakdown for the $2.05 million program is $36,005 for the world level; $28,400 for elite; $21,600 for performance and emerging elite will get $14,000.

There is also a pension plan in place for the athletes to take advantage of.

The fiscal year started on July 1, but either late May or early June, we informed all of the federations that we will be reverting to a three-month payment plan," said Johnson-Sills, rather than the monthly payment.

The next payment is scheduled for the end of November or mid-December for the next three months. The other two payments will come in March and May for the four payments over the fiscal year.

Johnson-Sills noted that the Attorney General's office assured the Ministry, headed by Mario Bowleg, that the payouts were quite legal and consistent with some government issued payments.

In the past, Johnon-Sills said there was no "criteria," just the "recommendation" from the federation and the ministry adhered to those recommendations.

"What we in the ministry did was seek legal advice from the Attorney General's office because we wanted to bring the subvention plan into a global structure," she said.

"As you know, most of their athletes are trying to get to the professional level, so we have it structured where they are not required to sign contracts and there are some who have obligations to their colleges or universities and so they have to satisfy their requirements."

As athletes on subvention, Johnson-Sills said these athletes will have to come home and participate in the national meets staged by their various federations, and they must do so at the level that they are competing on the international circuit.

Devynne Charlton, the women's world indoor 60 metres hurdles champion and record holder, who has had a banner year outdoors as well, winning the Commonwealth Games title in the 100m hurdles, remains the only one of more than 100 athletes from the 20 disciplines, on the world level.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner, the Olympic and World Championship's women and men 400m champions, and veteran Donald Thomas, have been removed from the list completely.

They will all receive a $3,000 payment as agreed by the federations, according to Johnson-Sill, based on their recommendations for consideration.

Behind Charlton, sprinter Anthonique Strachan is the only athlete listed at the elite level, while LaQuan Nairn, Alonzo Russell, Kaiwan Culmer, Wanya McCoy, Kendrick Thompson, Javonya Valcourt, Adam Musgrove, Printaqssia Johnson, Anthya Charlton, Shaun Miller Jr and Serena Brown are listed at the elite emerging category.

Ian Kerr, Wendell Miller, Charisma Taylor, Denisha Cartwright, Terrence Jones, Rhema Otabor and Camille Rutherford are on the list for the performance category.

Swimming is the next high-profile sport with Lamar Taylor leading the way as a performance athlete. Marvin Johnson, Nigel Forbes, Emmanuel Gadson, Ayrton Moncur, Elyse Wood, Rhanishk Gibbs, Mark Anthony Thompson, Victoria Russell, Caden Wells, Donaldv Saunders, Zoe Williamson, Joshua Gibson (water polo), Joanna Evans, Tristen Hepburn, Darren Laiung and Christon Joseph all at the elite emerging level.

And Lennox Lockhart, the teenage prodigy, who has been making headlines internationally in Edukarting, has been added on the elite emerging list.

But all of the tennis players, including Justin Roberts (as performance) and Denali Nottage, Jackson Mactaggart, Jerald Carroll, Saphirre Ferguson, Sydney Clarke, Simone Pratt, Tatana Madu, Patrick Mactaggart, Brianna Houlgrave, Breann Ferguson, Synaj Watkins and Sarai Clarke - all at the elite emerging level - have been placed on probation, according to Johnson-Sills, because of the dispute at the administration level.

"They are on a year's probation because of the in-house fight in the federation," Johnson-Sills said. "The ministry thought it best to continue offering financial assistance to those athletes.

"We weren't able to bring both sides to the table to come and discuss the athletes. So, we didn't want to move the athletes arbitrarily, so we kept the athletes on. They will receive a one-year probably and we will monitor their progress."

The entire list, according to Johnson-Sills, was shared with the Bahamas Olympic Committee and there were some persons who recused themselves when there was an affiliation with a particular athlete.

Here's a look at the others making the list:

Archery: Leron Rolle - lite emerging.

Basketball: Rashad Davis, Rhema Collins, Denika Lightbourn, Antonicia Moultrie and Shennell Stewart - all elite emerging.

Judo: Daniel Strachan (elite emerging) and Xavion Johnson and Karra Hanna (both at performance).

Volleyball: Shonari Hepburn and Kyle Wilson (Performance) and Eugene Stuart (Elite emerging).

Wrestling: Shannon Hanna - elite emerging.

Gymnastics: Kia Bazard and Maleah Miller - elite emerging.

Baseball: Tyrekk Sherman, Raivon Pinder, Frankey Moree, Javri Edgecombe, Marlon Bostwick and Anjaleah Knowles - all elites emerging.

Boxing: Anai Powell, Rashield Williams, Keano Cox, Carl Hield and Joshua Higgins - all elite emerging.

Sailing: Michael Cartwright and Paul de Souza - both elite emerging.

Golf: Cameron Riley. Lynford Miller, Maddisson Carroll, Richard Gibson and Nolan Johnson - all elite emerging.

Bodybuilding: Jason Johnson, Kaif Young, Judah Forbes and Alexander Kemp - all elite emerging.

Equestrian: Kacy Lynn Smith and Anna Vlasov - both elite emerging.

Uni Bahamas

Junior Kelly and Lhevinne Joseph - both elite emerging.

Softball: Skai Albury, Sana Roberts, Atavya Fowler and J'Neir Russell.

Cycling: Livingston Duncombe, Barron Musgrove Jr, Ayden Bain, Kami Roach and Anjaleah Knowles - all elite emerging.

Soccer: Dylan Archer - elite emerging.

Wrestling: Shannon Hanna - elite emerging.

Billiards: Dakari Turnquest - elite emerging.

Darts: Rashad Sweeting - elite emerging.

All athletes, according to Johnon-Sills, must comply with some stipulations in their contracts, including performing some hours of community service and performing at a certain level when they are competing at home.