Jamaican Sports Minister cuts anti doping budget by J$14 million

By Nick Butler

A JMD J$14 million (£81,000/$121,000/€112,000) cut to the Jamaica Anti-Doping Agency (JADCO) budget has been announced just days after World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) President Sir Craig Reedie praised progress made there in improving testing procedures.

Sir Craig, also a vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, told insidethegames following his visit that he had been impressed with what he had seen, and that Jamaica had provided a good model of how a situation can be recovered.

He cited increased Government support and the appointment of a new independent Board with no conflict of interests as reasons for the improvements, adding that they "now have absolutely the correct framework in place".

Given this praise, it comes as a surprise that the budget has been cut so soon afterwards, with the annual allowance having been reduced from JMD J$104 million (£600,000/$901,000/ €831,000) to JMD J$90 million (£519,000/$780,000/€719,000).

This was announced by Sports Minister Natalie Neita Headley in Parliament, with the official claiming less funding was now required because of the improvements that have already been made, adding that JADCO's work will not be affected.

"We don't anticipate the number of cases we experienced over the last year," she said, as reported by the Loop News Agency.

"I believe we have spent a great deal on educating our athletes, introducing a new website that provides additional information.

"Our athletes are more aware as a result of the Anti-Doping Commission embarking on a programme of work that made it far more efficient.

Sir Craig Reedie (second left) strongly praised the improvement made in the Caribbean nation regarding anti doping measures following a visit last month ©JADCO

"We are to embark, in this year, on the EPO (Erythropoietin) blood-testing programme, and it will not affect their [JADCO] programme of work.

"There is expected to be a reduction in a number of areas that were heightened last year, one of which was the hiring of a consultant to assist with the new Anti-Doping in Sports Act."

The nation had received much criticism following a series of scandals in 2013, with former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell and Athens 2004 gold medallist Sherone Simpson the most high profile athletes to fail tests.

It was claimed that just a single out-of-competition test had been conducted in the six months leading up to the 2012 Olympics in London, where Jamaica won a total of 12 medals, including four gold.

Since then a Extraordinary Audit was paid to the island by WADA officials, after which a raft of changes were introduced under new executive director Carey Brown, with a new Anti-Doping in Sport Bill introduced last December to enhance the body's independence and scope.

It remains to be seen if the budgets cuts will in reality negatively impact the implementation of these measures.

insidethegames has contacted WADA for a comment responding to the budget cuts.