A milestone to celebrate

THE MISUSE and abuse of drugs in sport has existed as early as the ancient Roman Olympics. Since the 1904 Olympics, many athletes have faced disciplinary hearings, while others have endangered their lives by taking banned substances.

Twenty years ago, in 1999, the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) was established to counteract this practice. In 2008, the Jamaica Anti-Doping Doping Commission (JADCO) was established, and is a signatory to the World AntiDoping Code, which was launched in 2008.

The importance of JADCO in trying to maintain honesty and integrity in Jamaica’s sports industry cannot be underestimated. Your decade of service through education, testing, advocacy and coordination of an effective anti-doping programme in Jamaica, and efforts of inclusivity of all sporting organisations and associations in the fight against doping in sports, is commendable.

Your theme for this 10th anniversary celebration, ‘Keeping Sport Clean, Forging Better Partnerships’, further showcases your commitment to ensure that all athletes comply with the regulations regarding anti-doping across all sport and all countries of the world.

The success of JADCO’s mission to foster a dope-free environment in Jamaica would not have been successful without the hard work and foresight of the board of directors, management and staff. For the most part, Jamaican athletes have achieved extraordinary success without taking performance-enhancing drugs.

An organisation’s anniversary is always a milestone to celebrate the achievements and propose opportunities to set new goals. Congratulations on your success to date, and best wishes as you continue to promote integrity in sport.

SIR PATRICK ALLEN Governor General