The visit from October 28-29, 2013 comes as the British newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, quoted WADA President John Fahey as complaining that Jamaica has been reluctant to accommodate an audit from the world’s sports doping governor.
Fahey was quoted as saying WADA felt it was unacceptable that The Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission, JADCO, had said that an investigation into allegations that drug tests were not sufficiently carried out in some half-a-year period prior to the 2012 London Olympics and could not be carried out until next year and the agency would act appropriately within an appropriate time frame.
“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,” a JADCO statement said.
In addition, it added, “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.”
The WADA team will comprise Rob Koehler, Director of Education Program and Development, Rune Andersen, Director of Standard Harmonization and Kerwin Clarke, Manager of Program Development.
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.
