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Jamaica prime minister reassures World Anti-Doping Agency over testing Jamaica prime minister reassures World Anti-Doping Agency over testing
(about 1 hour later)
Jamaica's prime minister has promised the World Anti-Doping Agency that drug-testing of the country's sports stars will be a top priority.Jamaica's prime minister has promised the World Anti-Doping Agency that drug-testing of the country's sports stars will be a top priority.
Wada issued a warning to the Jamaicans last month that they needed to address claims by a former leading official of its anti-doping commission that there had been numerous "troubling" problems and a lack of adequate testing. Wada issued a warning to the Jamaicans last month, that they needed to address claims by a former leading official of its anti-doping commission, that there had been numerous "troubling" problems and a lack of adequate testing.
It comes after five Jamaican athletes tested positive for banned substances earlier this summer, including the former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell. It comes after five Jamaican athletes tested positive for banned substances this summer, including the former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell.
Now, Portia Simpson-Miller, the prime minister of the Caribbean country, has contacted Wada and provided reassurances to the agency's director general David Howman.Now, Portia Simpson-Miller, the prime minister of the Caribbean country, has contacted Wada and provided reassurances to the agency's director general David Howman.
Howman said there are "no current issues" with Jamaica but Wada will visit the country and maintain checks.Howman said there are "no current issues" with Jamaica but Wada will visit the country and maintain checks.
Howman said: "We have had several responses from Jamaica including a personal response from the prime minister. Howman said: "We have had several responses from Jamaica including a personal response from the prime minister. She is very interested in anti-doping issues and it shows their commitment to deal with this, and we will visit again for further discussions.
"She is very interested in anti-doping issues and it shows their commitment to deal with this, and we will visit again for further discussions.
"There have been some gaps over the years in what Jamaica has done and we would not like to see these gaps occur again, but we have no current issues with them.""There have been some gaps over the years in what Jamaica has done and we would not like to see these gaps occur again, but we have no current issues with them."
Simpson-Miller is a former minister of sport in Jamaica and has retained the sport portfolio as well as being prime minister.Simpson-Miller is a former minister of sport in Jamaica and has retained the sport portfolio as well as being prime minister.
Her action comes after Renee Anne Shirley, the former executive director of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission, told Sports Illustrated magazine the agency did not have the staff to carry out rigorous anti-doping programmes. Her action comes after Renee Anne Shirley, the former executive director of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (Jadco), told Sports Illustrated magazine the agency did not have the staff to carry out rigorous anti-doping programmes.
She claimed there had been only one out-of-competition test between February 2012 and the start of the London Olympics five months later, and that Jadco had no officer keeping track of athletes so that they could be subject to on-the-spot tests.She claimed there had been only one out-of-competition test between February 2012 and the start of the London Olympics five months later, and that Jadco had no officer keeping track of athletes so that they could be subject to on-the-spot tests.
As well as Powell testing positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine, Sherone Simpson, a 4x100m relay silver medallist at London 2012, also failed a drug test for the same substance. As well as Powell testing positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine, Sherone Simpson, a 4x100m silver medallist at London 2012, also failed a drug test for the same substance.
In May, the Jamaican world 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown tested positive for a banned diuretic. A disciplinary hearing into the case began in Kingston earlier this month but so far no outcome has been announced. In May, the Jamaican world 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown tested positive for a banned diuretic. A disciplinary hearing into the case began in Kingston this month but so far no outcome has been announced.
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