The bust-up between quarter-milers Stephanie Ann McPherson and Shericka Jackson which preceded the women’s mile relay final at the IAAF World Championships in London on Sunday could have been caused by a uniform issue.

That’s the word from Donald Quarrie, technical leader of the Jamaica team, who made the revelation that both athletes fought before the event and during the altercation McPherson indicated that she would not be competing.

“It (argument) started with a uniform thing, and I don’t remember exactly why, because when it was beginning, I made sure I got in there to keep things normal. It escalated a little bit, but the main thing I was concerned about was keeping them apart,” said Quarrie.

McPherson was subsequently diagnosed with an injury and withdrawn from the team by relay coach Paul Francis.

The technical leader now seems to be questioning the authenticity of the information he was given.

“My main issue right now is the fact that one young lady said she was not going to run, suddenly. I show up at the track and her coach is telling me she has an injury and will not be able to run. The doctor did check with her and said it was a grade one something – I can’t remember what it is – but I find it very strange that between the hotel and here (warm-up track), an injury could have occurred,” said Quarrie.

“I am not going to put the blame on the young lady only. The coach is the one that said she cannot run, just as he said Elaine could not run. He gave me a reason that Elaine did not run in practice to the extent which he wanted should in case she had to push herself. She had not done that, so it was his decision,” Quarrie continued before sharing the circumstances around the altercation between the athletes.

“There was a verbal altercation between herself and Shericka. She (McPherson) said it (that she would not run). I told her not to say so and that we should move on. In the heat of everything, I could forgive the young lady, but I would like to know why, in such a short space of time, I show up at the track, and she is not running.”

Quarrie, who, without going into details, shared that the argument started because of uniforms.

“It (argument) started with a uniform thing, and I don’t remember exactly why, because when it was beginning, I made sure I got in there to keep things normal. It escalated a little bit, but the main thing I was concerned about was keeping them apart,” said Quarrie.

Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby was a last minute replacement for McPherson in the line-up alongside Chrisann Gordon, Jackson and Novlene Williams-Mills. The former Holmwood athlete however, suffered a leg injury 100m into her second-leg run before crashing to the ground and ending Jamaica’s hopes of defending the title.

The event was won by the United States in a world leading 3:19.02 seconds.