Bermuda Track and Field Association president Judy Simmons and national coach Gerry Swan are at the centre of controversy following the governing body's refusal to allow four of the Island's most promising athletes the opportunity to travel overseas.

Zindzi Swan, Shardae Whitter, Tiffany Eatherley and Brittany Marshall, all successful at last month's CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas, have reportedly been told by the BTFA hierarchy that if they accept an invitation to join the Mid-Island Striders on an educational tour of the US later this month they will be axed from the national squad.

And that has left Striders' head coach Bill Euler and his assistant coach, Renelda Swan, fuming.

The Striders had hoped to take the four CARIFTA athletes along with four of their own club athletes and five club officials on a tour from April 21-28 which would include visits to various US colleges and universities in and around Washington and Pennsylvania as well as to the Penn Relays, one of the world's most prestigious track meets.

But Swan and Marshall who, according to coach Euler, had both qualified for the Relays, and Whitter and Eatherley, will now be staying behind.

Coach Renelda Swan, a former Bermuda international sprinter who still competes in masters events, said yesterday he was disgusted with the BTFA's decision.

“The athletes aren't members of Striders but we wanted to take them as guests and they wanted to go,” said Swan.

“Now we can't take them. We don't want them to jeopardise their careers.

“Gerry (Swan) has given them an ultimatum: ‘Go with that team, and you don't train with the national squad'.

“(Top US coach) Brooks Johnson was here this week and he said: ‘You need to challenge this. The BTFA are denying these kids an educational opportunity.'

“The Penn Relays is one of the best meets in the world. They would have had chance to watch. But they would also have had chance to meet some top coaches.

“This trip was a golden opportunity for these athletes and Gerry has said ‘no'.”

“This was an educational opportunity, not just an athletic opportunity. Gerry is basically denying them their human rights, he's denying them access to a better education, that's the bottom line.

“I should say the BTFA is denying them, but everybody knows the BTFA is run by two people - Gerry Swan and Judy Simmons. And I say it in that order because Judy follows whatever Gerry says, despite the front she puts on. He's in charge. Behind the scenes he calls all the shots.

“As a result the BTFA is in a pathetic state. Track and Field in Bermuda is in a pathetic state. And despite the success we had at CARIFTA, we should have done better because we're not being represented by our best athletes.”

Renelda Swan noted that last year he and coach Euler had also wanted to take some national team members away to the Florida Relays, but was told by the national coach that the date was “too close to CARIFTA”.

“We respected that decision,” said Renelda, “even though it was three weeks before the Games and would have been an excellent warm-up for the athletes.

“Gerry's excuse last year was CARIFTA, but Bill (Euler) didn't make any waves.

“This year Bill was going to do the same thing but he didn't want to get in the way of the CARIFTA team, so we said we would do it after the Games. He mentioned it to Gerry and showed Gerry the itinerary. Gerry looked at it and said he wasn't impressed, and said he would have to wait to hear from Mrs. Simmons.

“Judy then sent Bill a letter saying no.

“Originally these kids wanted to go, but Gerry has told their parents and told them that if they go they won't be allowed to come back and compete for the national squad. It's ridiculous.”

In a letter obtained by The Royal Gazette, signed by Simmons and dated March 9, the BTFA informed the Striders that they could not sanction the trip due to the absence of certain information regarding the names of athletes and officials travelling with the club, and due to the fact that no provision had been made for the athletes to study and complete assignments while out of school.

However, Euler replied with a letter on March 13 offering the names of all those taking part in the tour and confirming that permission had been granted by CedarBridge Academy principal Kalmar Richards for Zindzi Swan, Tiffany Eatherley and Shardae Whitter to travel.

He was later told that the BTFA would still not sanction the trip.

Euler said last night: “I'm very disappointed with the BTFA. All we're trying to do is help these kids.

“I used to have a nice relationship with Gerry Swan. But we don't even speak now. People who know me, know I'm not like that.”

A message left at the BTFA office yesterday for comment on the matter was not returned.