'JADCO hitting testing targets'

Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) executive director, June Spence-Jarrett, says that the body is on target to complete 600 tests on athletes for the year.

Spence-Jarrett mentioned the figure while addressing the Public Administration and Appropriation Committee (PAAC) at Gordon House on Wednesday. The meeting, which also featured the Institute of Sports and the Sports Development Foundation, sought to get an explanation on whether each agency had any challenges in their functioning, including financial and administrative.

"So far, we have set a target of 500 urine tests and 100 blood tests," she said. "So far, we have done 150 urine tests out of competition and 116 urine tests in competition. We have so far done 43 blood tests out of competition and 39 blood tests in competition. So we are well on our way."

Expand Outreach

Spence-Jarrett said that JADCO will also expand its outreach, regarding awareness of anti-doping procedures, to more use of television and radio public-service announcements and the wrapping of public buses with advertisements. She said that this would help to send a message not just to urban, but to rural Jamaica as well.

Another method of outreach mentioned by Spence-Jarrett was that JADCO will also go into schools and have workshops on anti-doping regulations and procedures with not only student athletes, but also their parents, through parent-teacher association meetings. She said that the first presentation will take place at Jamaica College.

PAAC chairman Dr Wykeham McNeill asked Spence-Jarrett whether JADCO was on what he described as the "cutting edge" of anti-doping procedures, and among the best in the world with regard to its standard of testing.

"Yes it is, and we want to maintain that brand," Spence-Jarrett responded. "We are Brand Jamaica and we must keep it up before it gets anywhere else. This is why we are embarking on a rigorous education programme so athletes know their rights and responsibilities."

Spence-Jarrett was appointed executive director in March this year after the dismissal of Carey Brown, who was removed from the role in October, 2017.