KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-Jamaica’s Minister with responsibility for sport Natalie Neita-Headley says the country’s drug testing programme can stand up to scrutiny in the face of threats from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Neita-Headley’s declaration follows comments from the Wada director general David Howman urging the Portia Simpson Miller government to investigate claims by the former executive director of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission that its drugs-testing programme was inadequate.
Renee Anne Shirley had accused Jamaica’s politicians and administrators of ignoring her warnings that the positive tests returned by Asafa Powell and four other athletes were a “disaster” waiting to happen.
“A lot of things are unfortunate, but we have very little control over people and their personalities,” said Neita-Headley who declined to comment directly on Shirley’s comments.
“I think what is important is that the programme can stand up to scrutiny. That is what is going to be important and if we do have shortfalls that we seek to address them. The sports programme is more important than any person or personality.”
Writing in this week’s Sports Illustrated Shirley chided the Jamaican government for what she deems its failure to seriously deal with doping control.
In a statement released Thursday night, JADCO said it carried out 504 In-competition and 372 Out-of-competition tests in the four-year period between May 2009 and July 2013.
JADCO says it has also been working closely with WADA.
“We were doing well in sports long before we knew what supplements were. We were doing good in sports long before anybody was ordering anything on the internet. Jamaica is a sporting destination and we will continue to be so,” Neita-Headley expressed.
“Nevertheless, we remain committed to ensuring that all is in place and that we reach the ideal of ensuring that we are always compliant with what world standards are.”