The winners of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission’s (JADCO) Poster Competition were awarded on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at the Jamaica Conference Centre (JCC), in Kingston, at the first in the 2017 series of Junior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshops.
Kadhia Pryce, a fifth form student at Montego Bay High School, received the top prize of $30,000 and a trophy. Rushaѐ Alexander, of Hydel High School walked away with $20,000 and a trophy for placing second in the competition and Kiana Atkinson, also of Montego Bay High School was awarded $15,000 and a plaque for third place. Rhordann Kildare of Glenmuir High School and Kayla Brooks, also of Hydel High School, walked away with fourth and fifth place prizes respectively. The competition ran from October 12, 2016 to April 28, 2017 and was open to students from secondary schools across the island.
First place winner, Kadhia Pryce said, “I am really delighted to be the winner of the JADCO Poster Competition. It was a great opportunity and I am happy to find out that all my hard work has paid off.” She further added, “I am not an athlete, but I enjoy watching sports and the competition enabled me to express my creativity and highlight the anti-doping process that athletes have to go through on a daily basis.”
The mother of Kadhia Pryce, Kalamoore McKay was also present at the event and she said, “The JADCO Poster Competition gave Kadhia an opportunity to demonstrate her creativity. She heard about the competition and thought it was a good opportunity to increase her knowledge and I am happy she received a reward for her effort. She also got the opportunity to spread the anti-doping message.”
Visual Arts Teacher at the Montego Bay High School, Neko Bailey said, “I am proud that Kadhia won the competition. She was involved in a lot of competing activities at school, but she used her initiative and took the time to do the research that is required for the project. She was very enthused when she started learning about anti-doping and how it affects athletes.”
Also speaking at the event, student athlete from Calabar High School, Christopher Taylor said, “The most important thing I learnt at the workshop today is that all athletes have rights and responsibilities. After a competition, every athlete has a right to request a delay in the doping control process to cool down.” He also stated that it is important for athletes to learn about anti-doping from a young age, so if they become professional athletes they will know what to do.
Over 160 student athletes and their support personnel from schools located in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas and St. Catherine, participated in the workshop which was being held for the fourth consecutive year. They were provided with values-based education, as well as information on the role and responsibilities of JADCO and the doping control process. Dr. Jason Blankson, a representative from the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA), also delivered a presentation on the Health Consequences of Doping.
The Commission will host three additional workshops during the month of October at the Golf View Hotel in Manchester on Thursday, October 12, The Wexford Hotel in St. James on Wednesday, October 18 and at The Cardiff Hotel and Spa in St. Ann on Wednesday, October 25.
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