By DAHALIA SMITH,NG Sports Reporter,dahalia@nasguard.com

For the second time in less than a month, Justice Anita Allen's ruling on the former Bahamas Olympic Association's (BOA) executives' eligibility to vote at the body's next General Assembly, has been pushed back. The new date for the proceedings to continue on the matter surrounding the local governing body for all Olympic sports, is Tuesday, February 19 at 4:00 p.m., according to the officers at her chambers.

The former BOA executives, namely, Reverend Enoch Backford, Harcourt Rolle, Roscow Davies, Leonard Archer, Wellington Miller, Vincent Wallace-Whitfield, Diane Miller, Dr. Larry Davis, Livingston Bostwick and newly appointed chairman Sir Durward Knowles, former Vice President, are represented by Attorney Paul Adderley. Apparently, Adderley filed a writ on their behalf against former BOA President Sir Arlington Butler who late last year challenged their eligibility to vote.

To this end both sides presented arguments to Justice Allen on Thursday, December 10. At this same hearing, Justice Allen gave a January 7, 2007 date to hand down her ruling. However, instead of a ruling being handed down yesterday, The Nassau Guardian learnt that attorneys Adderley and Rose presented arguments again pertaining to the BOA's constitution in addition to those tendered on December 10.

The Nassau Guardian caught up with Adderley after court was adjourned, however he remained tightlipped about the case. Nonetheless, it was learnt from Allen's chambers, that on hand at the hearing were Amateur Boxing Federation of the Bahamas President Wellington Miller, who is one of the former BOA executives, and Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) President Mike Sands.

In May of 2007, Sands was a part of a team which had Justice John Lyons rule in their favor. The federation chiefs of Bahamas Football Association (BFA) President Anton Sealy, Bahamas Swimming Federation (BSF) President Algernon Cargill, BAAA President Mike Sands and Bahamas Softball Federation (BSF) President Romell 'Fish' Knowles have been pushing to amend the BOA's constitution, which they maintain does not correspond with that of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Olympic Charter, and is "outdated".

Lyons' ruling was that former BOA executives are ineligible to vote based on his interpretation of the IOC Charter. However, the former BOA executives appealed that ruling, thereby filing a writ against Butler late last year. Sands too remained tightlipped about the case, fearing the chance that he may be held in contempt of court.

Nonetheless, he elaborated on the effect this case may have on the athletes who are preparing for the Beijing Olympics, scheduled for this summer.

"This case does not have an adverse affect on our athletes' preparation. We have already indicated to them that while this issue is ongoing it should not be of concern because at the end of day the teams that qualify for the Olympics will travel," said Sands.

Sands, while opposed to the former executives being allowed to vote at the next General Assembly, agreed that the body is functioning well.

"As a credit to them, they are functioning and assisting the athletes although their time has expired," he added.