Meanwhile, problems at home may impede the DR’s relay team from participating in the 4 x 400 relay in the Athens Olympics. Controversial figure Andres Polimar of the Track and Field Federation said the Dominican team missed the qualifying ranking by 0.3 of a second because they did not participate in an event in Colombia. With Super Sanchez running the last leg, the DR team, which took bronze in the Santo Domingo Pan American Games, had a definite chance of making it to the finals. Polimar said that the final decision on whether the team gets to run will be made by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).
Carlos Yohelin Santana told El Caribe reorter that he had spoken with the vice-president of the IAAF, Amadeo Francis, who told him that France or possibly another country would back out from the competition, and leave the slot free for the DR. The relay team is composed of Carlos Yohelin Santana, Antonio Side, Julio Vidal, Arismendy Peguero and Felix Sanchez running the final leg. The DR is currently in 17th place, but only 16 teams are allowed to compete.