Minister Neita Headley Says Jamaican Athletes Are Among the Most Tested Worldwide

Minister with responsibility for Sport, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley has reiterated that Jamaican athletes are among the most tested in the world.

Addressing the 4th World Conference on Doping in Sport now underway in South Africa, Minister Neita Headley said the combined efforts of the International Sports Federations which conduct testing of Jamaican athletes and the testing programme of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) ensure that “our athletes are comprehensively tested in and out of competition.” Minister Neita Headley said the IAAF verified that during the period prior to the last Olympic Games, Jamaican athletes were the most tested of any other country’s athletes.

In her contribution at the WADA World Conference, Minister Neita Headley said Jamaica was one of the first countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to ratify the International Convention against Doping in Sport. This was done in October 2005. She told the gathering that Jamaica, like many other highly indebted developing countries faced its own challenges maintaining a comprehensive testing and education programme commensurate with our performance on the world stage, adding that with Jamaica’s great athletic tradition comes special focus and attention.

She noted nonetheless that Jamaica was committed to doing whatever was necessary to enhance its testing programme and called for strengthening of the WADA programme, particularly as it relates to greater support to developing countries like Jamaica. She said the stiffer penalties of up to four years as called in Article 10.2 for first-time offenders will be more effective and meaningful once the support services are in place and a vigorous testing programme is upheld.

Minister Neita Headley said Jamaica looks forward to working with WADA in enforcing the Code by ensuring the required reviews are conducted, systems maintained, monitored and appropriately funded.