KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- President of the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) Craig Reedie has applauded the progress made by Jamaica to improve its drug testing programme.
Wrapping up a one week visit to the island Reedie also singled out the Jamaica example as an excellent case study which can be used to improve drug testing programmes in other countries.
Jamaica has been attempting to repair its programme since a number of its athletes including former world record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic Gold Medalist Sherone Simpson, tested positive for banned substances.
“We are proud of what you have achieved,” said Reedie as he addressed members of the media.
“You have become an excellent case study, because there are many areas of the world which need the enthusiasm and the ability that you have shown”.
In November 2013, the entire board of Jamaica Anti Doping Commission (JADCO) resigned in the wake of the doping scandal which rocked the island and the athletics world.
New measures taken included an increase in government budget for drug testing, increase in the number of tests carried out as well as the hiring of senior executives to run the anti-doping programme.
Reedie believes JADCO has done an outstanding job in attempting to restore the public’s and the world’s confidence in the organization.
“Nobody could be anything but hugely impressed by the amount of work that has been done. WADA, I would like to think, helped a little bit with a couple of visits,” said Reedie, who became the third president of WADA in 2013.
“You were wise in cooperating with the CCES, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports [which is] a first-class Anti-Doping organization”.
Reedie’s stint in Jamaica included meetings with the boards of the JADCO and the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), as well as Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller during his visit.
