Track and Field Association's vice-president Stanley Douglas last summer appears to have suffered a slight setback when the victim refused a request to be cross-examined at a second hearing.

A committee chaired by Val Caesar, which includes Jeff Payne and George Simons, met with DeSilva for the first time on May 14. But the athlete and his representative, Charles Clarke, had requested during the nearly three-hour meeting that they have the opportunity to cross-examine Douglas before a report is finalised.

However, just this week DeSilva was apparently informed by the chairman that Douglas is unwilling to appear. The committee will consequently have to complete the report with the information it obtained at the first hearing and deliver it to the BTFA for further action.

Yesterday, Douglas refused to comment on the matter saying: "I'd rather not make any statement at all concerning this issue.'' In addition to hearing from DeSilva, the committee was in possession of detailed reports from Douglas and other witnesses -- all of whom watched during last year's Heritage Classic when DeSilva attacked the executive.

DeSilva, who has admitted assaulting Douglas after being "provoked'' by the executive for a long period, said that the refusal by Douglas suggested that the executive is unwilling to get to the "root of the cause.'' "To be honest his refusal to be cross-examined by my representative hurts him more than it hurts me. He is only running away from it, but this is a serious issue. I want the opportunity to let the committee and the public know that there is something going on that really shouldn't be,'' said DeSilva.

"I'm not surprised about this development though. The BTFA have been trying to keep everything quiet for the longest while, but I strongly feel that the matter should be cleared up once and for all.''