Akeem Marshall, an 18-year-old gold medalist from last year's Carifta Games, swapped his athletic gear for court attire yesterday when he appeared before a Sangre Grande magistrate charged with marijuana trafficking.
Marshall, from Grand Riviere, Matelot, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Sangre Grande First Court.
Marshall, was one of the country's four gold medalists in the competition held last year in Nassau, Bahamas, winning the Under-20 5,000 metre title in 16:49.96.
The annual competition will be held in Port-de-France, Martinique from April 19 to 21.
In requesting bail for the junior track and field athlete, his lawyer Fareed Ali told the court that if his client was remanded into custody it would affect his chances of retaining his title.
Marshall, was arrested and charged with the offence after he was allegedly found to have 34 grammes of marijuana in his possession while walking near Matelot Roman Catholic School on Saturday afternoon.
Espinet eventually released Marshall on $20,000 bail, not before wishing him good luck in his preparations for defending his title.
Marshall will reappear in court on April 1.