The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), hosted a panel discussion at the fifth annual Senior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshop, which was held at the Jamaica Conference Centre (JCC) on Saturday, November 17, 2018.
The panel discussion which focused on Keeping Sport Clean in Jamaica highlighted the importance of applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) and emphasised the health consequences of doping. The members of the panel were Dr. Kevin Jones, Chairman of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission’s Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUEC) and Dr. Jodi-Ann Smith, a representative from the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA). The workshop also included presentations on the functions and responsibilities of JADCO and the doping control process.
Speaking at the workshop, June Spence-Jarrett, Executive Director of JADCO said, “In recent months, the Commission has adopted a new approach to improve your experience. We have been making several courtesy calls to federations and associations. The Commission knows that keeping sport clean requires collaboration, so we are not only maintaining partnerships that already exist but we aim to improve them. As our mandate evolves, we too must make the necessary changes.”
Also speaking at the workshop, Anntoneo Haughton, senior athlete at Racers Track Club said, “The workshop was very informative, particularly the section about the Therapeutic Use Exemption. I think that a lot of athletes did not have this information at their disposal, but now it is very accessible and the workshop was a great experience. The speakers were very informative. They spoke about visiting schools and all the workshops that they host on a yearly basis. These initiatives are basically keeping all athletes and coaches informed and helping to keep sport clean.”
Cheryl Reid-Skeen, athlete support personnel said, “The workshop was very good, it educated and informed everyone. The panel discussion was very informative, it gave information about the health consequences of doping. JADCO is doing a great job, the workshops are educating people about the different types of prohibited substances, this helps to keep sport clean.”
Several senior athletes and their support personnel including members of sporting associations and federations, professional groups, coaches and sport administrators supported the event which was held as part of JADCO’s 10th Anniversary celebration. JADCO celebrated this milestone on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 by hosting a Decennial Gala at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston. The Commission will be hosting several activities throughout the year under the theme, “Keeping Sport Clean, Forging Better Partnerships”.
JADCO was formally established in 2008 to execute the national anti-doping programme, in accordance with the standards stipulated by the international governing body, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). JADCO’s mission is to foster a dope free environment in Jamaica that promotes the ethics and spirit of sport through education, testing, advocacy and coordination of an effective anti-doping programme in Jamaica.
