Kingston, Oct 24 (IANS) The Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) has officially invited the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to visit the country later this month to investigate its anti-doping programme.
A statement to this effect was released by the Jamaican government Wednesday, a day after reports about WADA president John Fahey’s complaint regarding Jamaica’s reluctance to accommodate an audit from the world’s sports doping governor, reports Xinhua.
Earlier this year, several high-profile Jamaican athletes, including Asafa Powell, former 100-metre world-record holder, had tested positive for banned substances at the World Championship trials.
Meanwhile, a former high official from JADCO revealed that drug tests were not sufficiently carried out in some half-a-year period prior to the 2012 London Olympics, which cast a question-mark over the anti-doping practice of the most successful sprinting country.
In an interview with British newspaper Daily Telegraph, Fahey said WADA felt unacceptable JADCO’s suggestion that an investigation could not be carried out until next year and the agency would act appropriately within an appropriate time frame.
This immediately triggered concerns among world media on the result of WADA’s “action”, which might influence Jamaican athletes’ sport career.
“The purpose of the WADA visit is to review the status of JADCO’s operations, including its drug testing programme, staffing, governance, education programme, and current cases of adverse analytical findings against some of our athletes,” read the statement.
“In addition, the various matters that have been raised in media reports will be fully ventilated and clarified especially the misleading and inaccurate assertion that Jamaican athletes are at risk of being excluded from international meets,” it continued.
The statement also said that the date for the WADA visit follows the on-going dialogue between WADA and JADCO on mutual convenience.