disciplinary hearing as long as the Bermuda Track and Field Association is willing to hear his side of the story in detail.

The athlete is being summoned to a hearing next month by the BTFA after physically attacking vice president Stanley Douglas during the Heritage Meet at National Stadium last July.

DeSilva yesterday questioned the timing of the hearing and wondered whether it was against the association's constitution to stage it so long after the incident took place, yet he still intends to show up and have his say.

"I regret everything that I did, but what burns me up is that nobody has wanted to hear my side of the story. I have never said that I was not guilty,'' he said.

"I was trying to get somewhere in track and field by attempting to get financial support to train abroad for the Olympics, but time and time again I had trouble dealing with Mr. Douglas and I simply became frustrated.'' Shortly after the incident took place DeSilva's defence was that he was "provoked'' and his belief remains the same to this day. "Many who know me realise that it was out of character for me to act that way without being provoked'' he insisted.

The athlete believed that his failure to travel abroad to participate in track meets in the US prevented him from meeting qualifying times for the Barcelona Olympics in the 200 metres.

Even with odds stacked against him coming away from a hearing without being suspended it will be of great satisfaction and relief to the athlete to be in a position where he can express his true feelings about problems that led to the confrontation with Douglas.

Yesterday he recalled that the attitude of Douglas during their discussions was always "terrible'' and that when he attempted to communicate his concerns to other officials they would turn a deaf ear.

DeSilva is concerned that the committee is loaded with reports of the incident from affiliated clubs and Douglas without giving him the opportunity to appraise them before it takes place. "They have been well informed about the incident that took place on the night, but this is the only side they have checked out. It is important that they be briefed about what occurred that lead up to it all,'' he insisted.

In addition to having received letters from the Hamilton Harriers and Mid Atlantic Club, the Disciplinary Committee is in receipt of a report of the account written by Douglas.

Douglas explained how he was having a conversation with three officials when DeSilva came over to him and eventually swung a "clenched fist'' that saw him roll to the ground to avoid being struck.

"Afterward I tried to remove myself from his presence, when another warning was called to me. To my horror and surprise Mr. DeSilva was swinging the base of some of the starting blocks at me. I was saved again by Mr. Norbert Simons who stepped in between us,'' he recounted.

Douglas wrote how the athlete made a third attempt to attack him later, forcing two other officials to intervene by tackling DeSilva to the ground.