The Editor, Sir:

I have been following with amused interest, the efforts by the American athletics body to organise a challenge involving Jamaica's athletes in a "we versus dem" series. I also note Asafa Powell's disagreement with the duel. I entirely agree with him.

Jamaica and Jamaican athletes have nothing to prove by racing against the Americans, who we thrashed at the summer Olympics. Obviously, the Americans are still smarting from the defeats this small nation handed them. For years, several high-profile American athletes have been awarded coveted gold medals under a cloud of suspicion of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Cheated talented athletes

These people have cheated talented athletes, several from Jamaica, of the glory of standing at the top of the winners' podium and hearing their national anthem played. They were robbed of the rush of emotion that athletes in this position experience. They were robbed of the attendant endorsements and monetary windfall being an Olympic or world champion attracts. Just ask Merlene Ottey, Juliet Cuthbert, Grace Jackson, Raymond Stewart, to name a few.

During those years, Jamaica did not ask for a one-on-one duel, so why should we now feel obligated to race the Americans outside of the grand prix circuit, the Olympics and the World Championships? For years, some American journalists covering the games would pay only token attention to the Jamaican athletes and those who did well were almost chastised because they attended American universities. The Americans felt that we had benefited from their programme and then won glory for our home country. However, with the script being flipped and many of our top athletes opting to train in Jamaica, they are now scratching their heads and trying to find sinister reasons for our outstanding showing.

By the number of journalists who descended on the National Stadium to see for themselves the unprecedented wonder of this meet, one recognises that Jamaica has captured the attention of the world. Many of those who thought our performance at the 2008 Summer Games was a fluke, now see that our people are fast, not because they smoke ganja, use performance-enhancing drugs or other magic potions, but by a natural talent for sprinting, dedication and hard work, not only on the part of the athletes, but the coaches and administrators.

We should tell the Americans, thanks for the challenge, but no thanks.

I am, etc.,

KAREN MADDEN JAMES

Kingston 19