Minister Neita Headley Meets With WADA

Consequent on the receipt of the report prepared by the WADA Review Team which visited Jamaica, October 28 – 29, Minister with responsibility for Sport, Hon Natalie Neita Headley, who is in South Africa attending the 4th World Conference on Doping in Sport, met with the WADA Director General David Howman on Thursday, November 14.

Minister Neita Headley responded to the recommendations made in the report. WADA says it is satisfied that the Minister has accepted the practical suggestions made and now looks forward to the full and speedy implementation of the recommendations.

These include the invitation to a National Anti-Doping Organisation to work with JADCO at an operational level; undertaking of a review of Jamaica’s anti-doping legislation, and the evaluation of JADCO’s governance and management structure. Minister Neita Headley assured WADA that additional budgetary resources will be made available to JADCO, and reconfirmed that that the process was advanced for the filling of vacant posts at the Commission.

Minister Neita Headley assured WADA that the Government of Jamaica was fully committed to addressing any deficiencies that exist and to improving the efficiency and efficacy of the anti-doping programme in Jamaica. For its part WADA said it will continue to work with JADCO in the interest of dope- free sport and the protection of its clean athletes.