Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer

PHYSICIAN AND sport analyst Dr Paul Wright believes the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) is long overdue and it's time to get the ball rolling.

Over a month ago, the Government passed a bill for Jamaica, which came under pressure from the international media for not having its own anti-doping agency.

But, Wright said while that was a step in the right direction, it's time to start the process.

"I am really glad that they have at least named the people (for the committee), but it's for them to start to work," said Wright, one of the first people to call for the agency to be established.

Educating all athletes

He said, the work should start by educating all athletes in sports about the ramifications of drug use and what the penalties are if they are found positive.

And this, he said, "should be all-island".

"I am suggesting that they start in the parish capitals and invite all the people in that parish to that meeting and get the ball rolling," Wright said.

Then "it should also be diverted to adult sports" while interscholastic sports should be placed in the hands of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association.

"We can educate the children and have every educational seminar be associated with a drug testing sample, so you can show people how the test is done and what the results can be," he said.

Asked if he expects any difficulties, Wright said, "There is no difficulty in starting a programme by talking about it and educating."

However, he believes the problem will pop up if a high-profile athlete is caught.

"The problem with drug testing is when you catch somebody positive who has big power connections ... that's always the difficulty in Jamaica's drugs-testing policy," he explained.

"We boasted of our national drugs-testing policy when what we mean is the IAAF-sponsored drugs-testing policy of targeted athletes ... that is not a national drugs-testing policy," he said.

No-tolerance policy

"We spoke about no-tolerance policy for drugs. When Xavier Marshall tested positive with the Stanford 20/20 (Superstar team), and the Jamaica Cricket Association claimed it is not involved because it's Stanford 20/20 and he will be playing for Jamaica in the future because he is a good player ... and has good connection, that is the problem."

However, Wright trusts that JADCO will work, once the laws are abided by.

"The only problem is when powerful people start to ignore the findings or claim something is wrong with the system," he said.

Jadco's organisational chart

TIMELINE

November 17, 2003

Cabinet approves the adoption of the World Anti-Doping Code.

February 10, 2004

Jamaica becomes the 97th signatory to the Copenhagen Declaration on anti-doping in sport.

May 16, 2005

Government adopts the Jamaican Policy Against Doping in Sport.

October 2005

Jamaica adopts the International Convention Against Doping in Sport.

May 2008

JADCO opens its office on South Odeon Avenue.

July 22, 2008

Anti-Doping in Sport Act 2008 approved in the Lower House.

July 25, 2008

Anti-Doping in Sport Act 2008 approved in the Upper House.