WADA doubtful of Jamaica’s anti-doping programme

Track  and  field’s  world  governing  body  the  IAAF  says  it  is  not  concerned   about  the proposed  visit  to  Jamaica  by  the  World  Anti-Doping  Agency or  the  testing  of  Jamaican  athletes  including  six  times  Olympic   champion  and  double sprint   world  record  holder  Usain  Bolt.

According to International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) spokesman Chris Turner “It is abundantly clear that the testing of Jamaican athletes before London was extensive and thorough – and continues to be so today”.

Turner said in 2012 Jamaica had 19 athletes in the IAAF registered testing pool (RTP) who were tested 126 times, an average of 6.63 tests for each athlete.

By comparison, 43 U.S. athletes in the 2012 pool were tested 222 times, an average of 5.16.

“Incidentally, Usain Bolt is one of the most tested athletes in the RTP and under the jurisdiction of the IAAF was tested over a dozen times in and out of competition in 2012.” Turner said.

Including all tests under the IAAF’s jurisdiction, 37 Jamaican athletes were tested out of competition by the IAAF in 2012, Turner said, “a robust and comprehensive programme which concentrated on training camps and accounted for every top international athlete from that country”.

The statement by the IAAF follows WADA announcing it is planning a special visit to Jamaica next year following concerns over the Caribbean island’s anti-doping programmes.

WADA has accepted an invitation from the Prime Minister of Jamaica to visit and inspect JADCO (the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission),” WADA said in a statement on Monday.

The visit follows comments by former JADCO Executive Director Renee Anne Shirley that there had been a significant gap in out-of competition testing by JADCO in the months prior to the 2012 London Olympics, where Jamaican sprinters were dominant.

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