Shirley doubts JADCO’s competence

Former Executive Director Renee Anne Shirley says that the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) cannot be trusted for any future international meets after a record being ruled void because of its error.

World Athletics, track and field's governing body, did not ratify Jamaica's 42.58 second run at the Carifta Games in April as a world Under-20 4x100m record because Tina Clayton, a member of the team which also featured Serena Cole, Tia Clayton and Brianna Lyston, was not tested on the day of the race.

JADCO chairman Alexander Williams said on Wednesday that the body takes full responsibility for the error, with promises to ensure that it would not happen again. He has since confirmed to THE WEEKEND STAR that an investigation into the matter has also already started.

However, Shirley says that there has already been damage to the body's reputation, and Jamaica's ability to host international meets.

"You can't ask them in the near future to do anything like that," Shirley told THE WEEKEND STAR. "Who wants them there? Who is going to accept results that are conducted by them? Nobody in the Caribbean is going to stand up and say we want Jamaica [to host an event]. At this point, you can't, and if Jamaica is hosting, somebody else has to be in charge of doping control."

JADCO's explanation on the matter was that Tina having been tested the day before the race, did not have to be tested again, based on their best practices. However, Shirley said that it defies a World Athletics requirement and a Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association directive on testing protocol.

Sports medicine specialist Dr Paul Wright said that the incident has cast further scrutiny on local athletes based on their performances.

"We cannot afford these mix-ups, this foolishness to go on," Wright said. "Because all it does is to make people look at our athletes when they go aboard. This has international implications and Jamaica has got to stand up and show the world that it will not happen again."

Shirley says that because of JADCO's error, its board must resign and new leadership must help to repair the trust that is now broken.

"Can you imagine if this had been done to one of the other Caricom countries," she asked. "It is bad for Jamaica, but just think of the implications. What explanation could we give beyond sabotage? You can't say that this is an error. If you want to keep going you better go get help and put some people in there to do the doping control now."

JADCO has refused further comment on the matter until the investigation has ended.