adminLAUSANNE. — The World Anti-Doping Agency has again expressed its unhappiness at the way Jamaica’s anti-doping programme has responded to the five positive tests among Jamaican athletes. WADA in August had said it was standing by to help Jamaica resolve their problems in the wake of the doping scandal involving former 100m world record-holder Asafa Powell.
The global doping agency had then called for urgent action on the concerns raised by former Jamaica anti-doping chief Renee Anne Shirley over flaws in the country’s drug testing programme.
Two months on, WADA claimed on Monday: “Since then, WADA has accepted an invitation from the Prime Minister of Jamaica to visit and inspect JADCO (Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission).
“WADA was unhappy to learn that JADCO cannot accommodate this visit until 2014.”
In August, WADA had warned Jamaica that if they did not take steps to put their testing programme in order, it would report back to the WADA Foundation Board where a signatory can be declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.
That could trigger Jamaica and consequently sprint legend Usain Bolt’s exclusion from the Olympics.
JADCO has already defended itself against accusations that it wasn’t doing its job properly by pointing out that it was they who had originally unearthed the five positive tests in the run up to the Moscow world championships in August.
Jamaican officials were quoted in the Jamaica Observer newspaper on Monday saying they look forward to assisting with WADA’s probe.
“Such a visit is welcomed, as Jamaica seeks to maintain its unwavering commitment to integrity in sport,” said Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller. We are happy for all the technical support WADA and the IAAF have provided and continue to provide in order that our systems will become first rate.” — AFP.
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