The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is reportedly threatening to suspend Jamaica from the upcoming Olympic Games in Brazil and other major competitions if the Government does not address failings in the local drug-testing programme. According to the UK Telegraph newspaper, WADA’s director general, David Howman, says the Jamaican Government should investigate claims by the former executive director of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCo) that its drugs-testing programme was completely inadequate. Writing in CNN’s Sport Illustrated this week, former JADCo boss Anne Shirley accused the Government of failing to seriously deal with doping control despite several recommendations and warnings. Commenting on Shirley’s report, the WADA chief said if Jamaica refused to take its responsibilities seriously, WADA could deem JADCo non-compliant with its code. Howman has also admitted that WADA was aware that JADCO conducted just one out-of-competition test in the five months leading up to the London Olympic Games last year. According to the newspaper article, Howman refused to reveal whether WADA had contacted JADCo or the Jamaican Government following Shirley’s article, describing such discussions as “confidential”.
