JADCO launch next month

Member of JADCO Dr Herb Elliott, told the Observer yesterday that the official launch of the commission would take place sometime next month. "There are a number of laws that we have to have passed and the Attorney General office has to oversee the things we do, but there should be no problems because it conforms with the other conventions," Dr Elliott explained. JADCO will direct the Jamaica National Drug Control Programme, including the development of the annual test distribution plan, the collection of samples, the management of test results, and the conducting of hearings in keeping with the World Anti-Doping Code. According to Dr Elliott, JADCO will test all local-based athletes, as well as overseas athletes who come to Jamaica for whatever reason, in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). While he was not able to give a specific number of athletes who would be eligible for testing, Dr Elliott believed that the figure could be around 400 or 500. He added: "We are also going to get inputs from other international federations such as the IAAF and FIFA." The tests, he pointed out, would not only be conducted on seniors, as juniors of a certain standard, like Usain Bolt or Anneisha McLaughlin, could be subjected to testing. But he pointed out: "If we are getting any (suggestions) that athletes are getting something that may cause them harm they will be tested. Nobody is exempt from it." "We did 500 bloods (tests) and we are looking at blood patterns now. There were some suspicious things, but we didn't have the ammunition to do all of what we wanted to do," he indicated. Dr Elliott, who is also a member of the IAAF doping committee, noted that all athletes from all sports affiliated to the Olympic movement would be subject to testing. "We are already collecting names and are well on the way to doing the work," he said. (The Observer)