JADCO’S NUTRITION CORNER

The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission continues to encourage athletes to remain safe and healthy during the pandemic. Proper nutrition can help an athlete to remain healthy. The JADCO Nutrition Guide for Jamaican Athletes recommends that athletes have a well-planned eating strategy throughout training. This will help athletes to train well, promote efficient recovery between training sessions and allows athletes to optimise their talents.

The Nutrition Guide for Jamaican Athletes endorses the eight Food Based Dietary Guidelines that Jamaica has developed which aims to promote healthy behaviours and practices that will help athletes make healthy food choices.

However, for an athlete to meet the physical demands of sport it is important to have the proper fuel from food which supplies carbohydrate, protein and proper hydration. Therefore, having a well-planned eating strategy requires discipline and is a good investment for athletes.

To get more tips from the JADCO Nutrition Guide for Jamaican Athletes, click on the link: http://ow.ly/930j30hfBWo.

2021 JADCO SYMPOSIUM

On Thursday, January 28, 2021 the Commission held the JADCO Symposium virtually for the first time. The seventh annual JADCO Symposium was held under the theme, “Examining the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code”.

Over 90 participants from various sporting disciplines joined the symposium virtually. On this occasion, participants received critical information on the role of JADCO, the social consequences of doping, the changes in the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code and the 2021 JADCO Rules. Participants were also made aware of JADCO’s COVID-19 safety guidelines and were updated on the recent achievements and plans of the Commission.

The keynote speaker at the event was the Honourable Alando Terrelonge, State Minister in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

CHANGES IN THE 2021 WORLD ANTI-DOPING CODE

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) releases an updated version of the World Anti-Doping Code every five to six years. Since January 2021 a new Code and two additional international standards have been introduced.

The World Anti-Doping Code is the core document that harmonises anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sporting organisations and among public authorities around the world. It works in conjunction with several International Standards which aim to foster consistency among anti-doping organisations in various areas. Previously, signatories to the Code were guided by six International Standards. These included Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE), Testing and Investigations, Laboratories, Prohibited List, Protection of Privacy and Personal Information and Code Compliance by Signatories. However, beginning in January 2021 two international standards have been introduced. These include Education and Results Management.

One of the major changes in the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code is the addition of an 11th Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV), Acts by an Athlete or Other Person to Discourage or Retaliate Against Reporting to Authorities. Whistleblowing or reporting information to authorities is now protected under the 2021 Code. Athletes, athlete support personnel and all those subjected to Anti-Doping Rules who attempt to obstruct whistleblowing activities may receive a sanction ranging from two years to a lifetime ban.

Additionally, the Code has updated existing Anti-Doping Rule Violations, Tampering and Complicity. Tampering which involves, engaging in fraudulent conduct during the Results Management of an ADRV will be treated as a separate offence and a further consecutive sanction may be applied. There has also been a change to the existing Anti-Doping Rule Violation Complicity, in that Attempted Complicity is now considered an offence. The attempted involvement or cover up of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation committed by another person can now be punished with a sanction ranging from two years to a lifetime ban.

The 2021 World Anti-Doping Code has also outlined changes to the sanctions. There is now in effect a reintroduction of aggravating circumstances. A ban can be extended by an additional two years in certain circumstances. There is also a Result Management Agreement in effect. Currently, a ban of four or more years can be reduced by one year if the person admits

to the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) and accepts the sanction within 20 days.

The 2021 Code has identified a category of substances called Substances of Abuse, which are substances that are prohibited in-competition and frequently abused in society outside of sport. The 2021 Prohibited List identifies cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as Substances of Abuse. If an athlete can demonstrate that the use of any of these substances was out-of-competition and unrelated to sport performance, the penalties faced by the athlete might be reduced based on the rules documented in the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code.

The 2021 World Anti-Doping Code also highlights a new Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act which promotes athlete rights within anti-doping and ensures they are clearly outlined, accessible and universally applicable. Rights come with responsibilities and athletes are now obligated to disclose the identity of their athlete support personnel when requested by an Anti-Doping Organisation.

Another change to the Code is revised the definition of the in-competition period. In-competition is now defined as the period beginning at 11:59 p.m. on the day before a competition in which the athlete is scheduled to participate, through to the end of the competition and the sample collection process related to the competition.

Click on the link to read more about the changes in the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code: https://www.wadaama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/2021_ wada_code.pdf

2021 VIRTUAL JADCO SCHOOL TOUR

The 2021 series of the JADCO School Tour was held virtually due to the on-going pandemic. The Virtual JADCO School Tour targeted the parishes of Westmoreland and Hanover. However, on February 8, 2021 a workshop was also held with Paul Bogle High School in St. Thomas, as a face to face workshop scheduled with the school as part of the 2020 series of the JADCO School Tour was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Over 270 athletes and their support personnel joined the workshops online from 12 secondary schools. information to secondary school athletes and their support personnel. Participants received values-based education and information about the functions and responsibilities of JADCO and the Doping Control Process. They were also made aware of JADCO’s COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The JADCO School Tour is one of several initiatives which targets junior athletes and their support personnel. The event is held annually during the months of February to April.

The tour which was held between February 8 and March 18, 2021 focused on disseminating anti-doping