WADA to examine Jamaica's drug testing programme

Montreal, Nov 8 (IANS/CMC) A report on the state of Jamaica's drug testing programme is expected to be examined next week during a meeting of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in South Africa.

WADA's Director General David Howman made the announcement saying the executive committee is expected to study the report from a two-day inspection trip to Jamaica.

Howman said the report on gaps in Jamaica's testing of its star athletes in the build-up to the London Olympics will likely be presented to WADA's board when it meets on the first day of its conference in South Africa Tuesday.

"We've been able to have a process, so from that point of view I'm content that the process has been followed," Howman said by telephone from WADA headquarters in Montreal.

"We'll get a report shortly and we will deal with the report in the same way as we deal with any audit report from a stakeholder."

Howman said he was satisfied with the process that was followed with WADA's inspection of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission last week.

The inspection was prompted by revelations of a breakdown in the testing of the Caribbean island's high-profile sprinters in the six months leading up to the London Olympics.

Eight Jamaican athletes, including former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic 400 relay gold and silver medallist Sherone Simpson, have tested positive this year.

--IANS/CMC

bs/dg