By Ben Efe
Olympic and world 100-meter champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser broke down and cried when she was confronted with the result of her positive dope test to pain killer, Oxycodone at the Diamond League in Shanghai, China on may 23.

The Jamaican-born Ann-Fraser was suspended by the IAAF after a positive test for a painkiller she claims she took to alleviate a toothache.

Fraser found out about the provisional suspension hours before she was scheduled to compete in the 100 meters at the Athletissima meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 8. She cried and was particularly worried about what the public would think of her, especially when there has been insinuations that Jamaican athletes could be doping, because of their recent successes.“She was so disappointed,’’ said the athlete’s manager, Adrian Laidlaw

“From a perception standpoint, she was concerned. But sometimes there are certain rules where people become a victim of a rule. All we can do is hope that good sense prevails.’’

Fraser had a dental procedure performed in May and then flew to China for the meet.
A slight infection had set in, Laidlaw said, and Fraser was given medication by a physician to alleviate the pain. When that didn’t work, her coach gave her a painkiller before the race, a drug that Fraser failed to declare to the IAAF. Laidlaw said that if she had, “this wouldn’t have been an issue.’’

Fraser ran a sluggish race, finishing second as Carmelita Jeter of the United States surged past her.
Before the doping furore, Fraser had seen herself a role model for kids in her native Jamaica, especially those from her drug infested and crime ridden Kingston slum of Waterhouse.
“It is not easy being a role model but I am good at it,” said Fraser. “I am just a normal person. I am quiet and I am a very sweet and warm person.
“I used to have a role model so I know what people are looking for.”

At first Fraser’s mother couldn’t afford to even send her to school. The family had no money so they would often go to bed hungry.

One of her best friends died in childbirth at age 12 and she witnessed first hand the violence that plagued the Waterhouse district.

Raised by a single parent, Fraser’s family lived off the trinkets and second hand goods that her street-vendor mother sold.

“She would come in sometimes from work and say she didn’t make any money today so we couldn’t buy anything,” said Fraser.

In 2008, Fraser became the first Jamaica woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal in the 100m sprint.
She feels fortunate to have made it out of Waterhouse alive and is now trying to give something back.
“When the young girls in my country become pregnant and they don’t have education they are stuck in the same situation as their parents. It is a cycle.

“It is bad, but a lot more can be done to try and teach people. It is hard when you can’t afford to feed your children.
“You have to have a plan. You have to sit down and say this is what I want for myself and this is what I need to do to get there.”

“Education needs to be the number one focus in our country.” Fraser has also been given the title of first UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador for Jamaica.

Fraser says her role model is her mother, Maxine Simpson. “She has been through everything,” Fraser said.
When Fraser goes back to Jamaica she is treated like a queen. People mob her wherever she goes, aspiring young athletes watch her train and copy her every move.

“It is hectic. A lot of people are running to my car. It is touching though. Most of them are really poor.”
Fraser says track and field athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs are looking for an easy ride rather than training hard and paying their dues honestly.