KINGSTON – President of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA), Dr Warren Blake, has robustly defended Jamaican athletes following threats by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
WADA has claimed that not enough was being done by the island’s track and field officials to deal with drug use in the sport.
“Our athletes are the most tested in the world, as prior to the London Olympic Games some 125 drug tests were done on our elite athletes by the IAAF,” said Blake while delivering his presidential report at the JAAA’s annual general meeting in Kingston on Tuesday.
“While WADA was not doing enough, the IAAF was extensively testing our athletes and our athletes are tested more than any other athletes in the world.”
Blake’s defence is similar to that mounted by Lamine Diack, president of the sport’s world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Diack had noted the high number of drug tests done on Jamaica’s athletes in the face of criticisms by WADA.
“When you look at the performances of our athletes since this extensive drug testing by the IAAF, it is the best medal haul we have had in major competition in our history,” said Blake.
WADA’s criticisms were sparked by a report published by former Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission executive director Renee Anne Shirley, claiming discrepancies in the island’s out-of-competition testing.
Several high-profile Jamaican athletes had returned adverse analytical findings. (CMC)
