The Bermuda Track and Field Association's (BTFA) decision to bar Mid-Island Striders athletes from the Carifta Games has been vindicated by the arbitration panel.

However, there's apparently room still open for the club's members to represent Bermuda in the regional junior meet being held here on Easter weekend.

In a four-point judgement released yesterday, the Ministry of Sports' Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) council noted the BTFA had complied with their own rules and that Mid-Island “have not complied with the guidelines for application in qualifying for participation as laid down by the BTFA”.

The three-man panel - chairman Reginald Rawlins, Vaughn Mosher and Larry Scott - also found that, as a non-affiliate, Mid-Island “cannot expect that exception should be made for them just because they have athletes who can compete”.

“The BTFA has primary responsibilities to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Carifta and it would be irresponsible for the BTFA to simply bend its rules to accommodate Mid-Island Striders as the BTFA would risk international embarrassment should they bend their rules to accommodate Mid-Island Striders who themselves were not in compliance. Bermuda would be the losers,” read the ruling.

It was also noted that despite the club's non-affiliation with BTFA, the national athletics governing body did extend an opportunity to Mid-Island to participate in Carifta.

During the arbitration process, held last Saturday at the Fire Service Headquarters, the panel observed there is clearly “some disagreement between the parties regarding athletes' preparation for competition” but that the responsibility for “the presentation of national teams in international events” resides with the BTFA.

In the final point of their ruling, the panel hinted there may yet be a way into Carifta for Mid-Island athletes.

“The BTFA might still include those participants under exceptional circumstances where it is within their guidelines to do so”.

Mid-Island were urged to make “every effort now and in the future to work with the BTFA and their athletes towards this end”.

The BTFA were represented at the hearing by their president Judy Simmons and spokesman Richard Horseman while Mid-Island president Dave Matthew and spokesman Michael Charles (assisted by Benjamin Dyer) appeared on the club's behalf.