Government Strengthening Structures to Protect Athletes

The Government has embarked on the development and strengthening of appropriate structures and framework that will protect athletes and provide a level playing field in the world of competition.

This was noted by Minister with Responsibility for Sports, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, at the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) symposium, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, on January 29.

The symposium was held under the theme: ‘Exploring the New and Improved World Anti-Doping Code’.

Mrs. Neita Headley said that as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to promoting a robust anti doping environment, a new Anti-Doping in Sport Act was passed in 2014.

“All the other instruments which are attendant, are being looked at and being reviewed, to ensure that all are in harmony and are geared at strengthening anti-doping in sport programme,” she noted.

The Minister encouraged the various stakeholders within the sporting sector, to get informed about the new world anti-doping code, which came into effect January 1, 2015.

“We understand the importance of education as a critical component of the anti doping in sport programme. If you don’t know you will claim that you are ignorant about it and ignorance does not prevent you from being sanctioned. So, you must know. We want to make sure that you know,” Mrs. Neita Headley emphasised.

She added that all have a responsibility to ensure the success in sports in Jamaica and encouraged the participants at the conference to understand all the nuances and the intricacies of the new code.

“Your roles are critical in maintaining our dominance or advancing our dominance in sports across the world. This little country must continue to do well without any foul play. It is important to remind ourselves that sport is an industry, it has rules and regulations and it has guidance.  It is a value based industry in which discipline and fair play are the watch words,” Mrs. Neita Headley said.

The revised world anti-doping code will see the implementation of longer periods of ineligibility for cheats, and the sanctioning of athlete support personnel or others in the athlete’s entourage, who violate anti-doping rules or facilitate breaches of the anti-doping code.