THE Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation annual Board Meeting got underway here in Guyana yesterday morning at the Princess Hotel, with a feature address by the Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, and additional remarks by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Latin America Regional Office Director, Marie Jose Pesce Cutri, among others. 

Minister Anthony noted the need for more anti-doping awareness and education. Noting the approach that was taken by the Caribbean to bring about HIV awareness over the years, the Minister challenged t RADO to take up a similar model in their quest to bring about full anti-doping awareness.

The meeting was attended by board members from each of the 15 member countries, in addition to RADO Chairman, Dr. Adrian Lorde and the president of the Guyana Olympic Association, K. A Juman-Yassin.

This is the first time that a meeting of this type is being held here in Guyana, and Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Sport Alfred King described it as historical in his opening remarks.

“Today is very historic for us, because it is the first time that we are hosting this kind of a meeting, and we’re doing so knowing that the GOA as well as the government is fully supportive of programmes that has to do with doping,” King said.

King also touched on the development still to come where it concerns anti-doping measures all across the Caribbean, as well as in Guyana, while reminding that RADO has already come a far way since the body’s birth back in 2005.

“While we’re still trying to put ourselves together to create the right structure to operate our programmes in anti-doping, we’re still at the same time developing the capacity that will help to enhance the structure and a comprehensive programme that will satisfy our needs, but I believe collectively, there is much to shout about and there has been tremendous achievement through RADO.”

Yassin in his address also mentioned the significance of the event calling it a “momentous” occasion. Yassin, whose organisation overlooks anti-doping protocols in Guyana, reiterated King’s comments in commending the developments made by the Caribbean RADO, while also noting that more still needs to be done to sufficiently get the message of anti-doping out into the public.

“Progress is being made, but there is more to be done and we all have to work together to ensure that it is done. For me the fight against doping is a continuous one, and we have to go to the schools, we have to go to the schools in order to put in the minds of the young people that success does not come easy, it comes by hard work and not by cheating.” Yassin stated.

Yesterday’s board meeting was preceded by a well-attended five hour Anti-Doping seminar on Friday that was held at the National Resource Centre, where officials from varying sporting federations across Guyana were given a comprehensive outline in what anti-doping entails.

(By Tamica Garnett)