Jamaica’s top sports official said Wednesday that the Caribbean sprinting powerhouse is determined to improve its drug-testing regime, following a two-day inspection by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Three WADA officials inspected the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission after revelations of a near-complete breakdown of its out-of-competition testing of athletes from January 2012 to the July opening of the london Olympics, where it won eight of 12 individual sprint medals. Additionally, eight athletes, including former world record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic 400-relay gold and silver medalist Sherone Simpson, have delivered positive tests.
Natalie Neita-Headley, Jamaica’s minister with responsibility for sports, told a news conference on Wednesday that the WADA visit was “constructive” and that the government awaits their report. “We have come out of those meetings (with WADA) having a greater commitment to working closer together in partnership to ensure that JADCO advances and becomes not only world class but best in its class,” Neita-Headley said. “Our focus going forward is on strengthening and building capacity, in collaboration with our partners.”
Jamaica’s anti-doping agency will soon receive additional support from WADA and The International Association of Athletics Federations, track and field’s governing body, according to Neita-Headley. She declined to disclose specifics of that support, outside of WADA’s assistance in setting up a new JADCO website.
A WADA spokesman declined to comment about the visit to Jamaica. The three officials who visited Jamaica did not speak to the press.
To improve its anti-doping programs, JADCO’s budget rose by 14 percent this year compared to last year, according to Neita-Headley, and additional funding is being sought. A new executive director was recently named to lead the five-year-old organization and other staff positions are being filled. So far this year, JADCO says it has done 286 tests, roughly 45 percent of them out-of-competition. It also has plans to commence blood analysis tests.