KINGSTON – The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) has rejected claims by the former chief of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Dick Pound, suggesting that the country’s athletes are not being properly tested for drugs.
JADCO strongly defended Jamaica’s anti-doping programme after Pound told an international television station that Jamaican athletes belonged to a group that was difficult to test.
The international spotlight has fallen directly on Jamaican athletes after they dominated the sprint events at the London Olympics.
“There is no way that anyone could dare talk about JADCO being a Third World organization versus a First World organization,” declared Professor Winston Davidson, Vice chairman of JADCO.
“As far as I am concerned, we adhere to the same international standards and are as good (as) or even better than those who call themselves First World.”
Usain Bolt stormed to victory in both the 100 and 200 metres with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce snatching gold in the women’s 100 as the Caribbean island consolidated its domination
Pound, now a member of the International Olympic Committee, said Jamaicans should now expect more visits by drugs testers. However, Professor Davidson has insisted that nothing is wrong with JADCO’s anti-doping programme “and as such everything must be done that’s transparent and that can stand any kind of scrutiny or any rigour from any quarter at home and abroad”.
Jamaica made a clean sweep in the men’s 200 metres with Yohan Blake and Warren Weir winning silver and bronze behind Bolt.
More than 100 athletes were caught using banned substances in the months leading up to the Games following increased esting by national and international anti-doping agencies
Meantime, WADA has indicated it has no concerns about the operations of Jamaica’s anti-doping authorities.
WADA said the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) was deemed compliant in the compliance report passed by WADA’s foundation board last November.
“In order to achieve compliance, an anti-doping organisation needs to satisfy a number of criteria with regard to its anti-doping programme, including having an element of out-of-competition testing,” WADA said in a statement sent to the RJR Communications Group.
“It must also have in place anti-doping regulations that allow the programme to function effectively.”
WADA said many Jamaican track-and-field athletes are part of the IAAF’s registered testing pool and are, therefore, also tested independently of their national anti-doping programme. (CMC)
