Athletics: Drug Testing Practice in Jamaica under WADA’s Scrutiny.

The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) will audit Jamaica’s drug testing practice following claims of lack of out-of-competition drug tests prior to the London 2012 Olympics, reports the Associated Press.

The world athletics governing body, IAAF, meanwhile insists, as part of its “comprehensive” anti-doping programme, it extensively tested elite Jamaicans throughout that period at their training camp.

Jamaica’s reputation has been hit by scores of positive test news in recent months with former 100m world-record holder, Asafa Powel, his teammate Sherrone Simspon and three-time Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell all headlining.

Asafa Powell and Sharonne Simpson Both Missed the Moscow World Championships for Testing Positive for a Banned Substance.
Asafa Powell and Sharonne Simpson Both Missed the Moscow World Championships for Testing Positive for a Banned Substance.

Renee Anne, a former director of the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission (Jadco) had in August; claimed athletes were not tested outside of competition for five of the seven months before last year’s London Games, where the country’s sprinters won eight individual medals.

Albeit, her claims were rebuffed by Jadco chairman Herbert Elliot, Wada director-general, David Howman, just like the expression ‘no smoke without flame’, believes something went wrong along the line.

“There was a period of, and forgive me if I don’t have the number of months right, but maybe five to six months during the beginning part of 2012 there were no effective operation,” Howman told the Associated Press.

“There might have been one or two, but there was no testing. So we were worried about it, obviously.”

Jadco is not the only body which would carry out drug tests on Jamaican athletes.

All athletes finishing in the top five places at the London Games were tested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Howman said Wada would focus on the significant gap in out-of-competition testing carried out by Jadco itself as a “high priority”, although the enquiries are not expected to yield results by the end of the year.