Carlos, Junica in bittersweet moment facing coronavirus

End of the GAPLF-imposed one-year suspension…

Guyana’s celebrated strongman, the irrepressible Carlos Peterson-Griffith, and Junica Pluck, two athletes of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) who had violated the rules of the GAPLF and the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) by participating in a StrongFit competition in Barbados on May 4-5, 2019, have each served the one-year suspension imposed on them by the powerlifting entities.

And now that the suspension has been lifted, it is more of a bittersweet moment for these two athletes, because of the threatening presence of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which has rocked the entire world.Guyana has been affected with more than 150 cases of this disease, and has been forced to suspend all sporting disciplines indefinitely.

In 2019, as one would recall, this pair of athletes had participated in an unauthorized powerlifting competition,

and the GAPLF had said it would need to make a decision on their future in the sport. They were suspended for having violated the rules of both the IPF and the GAPF. Article 14.9 of the IPF Constitution states under Participating in non-IPF Competition: “Any lifter, coach, referee or official who competes or participates in an international powerlifting or bench press competition not organised, sanctioned or approved by the IPF shall not be permitted to take part in any IPF international or regional competition for a period of 12 months from the date of that non-approved competition.”That aside, the GAPLF Constitution states in Section 12, Article 1, point 4: “The stated reasons for suspension are not a closed list, and the executive members shall collectively exercise their discretion when opting to suspend a member of the GAPLF. The following may be subject to suspension: “Any lifter who participates in a contest with other countries without the permission of the GAPLF.”Neither athlete had informed the Federation of their intention to participate in a StrongFit competition in Barbados. Had the Federation been made aware, it would have been able to let them know that Barbados was not an affiliate of the IPF, and the event in which they had competed was not sanctioned by the IPF.Nevertheless, when the deadly COVID-19 pandemic has passed, the pair would be rearing to go in an effort to again shatter records and retake their position on the powerlifting throne.