'Test Champs athletes'

BY HOWARD WALKER

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

OUTSPOKEN sports medicine specialist Dr Paul Wright yesterday renewed his call for drug testing at the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championship, arguing that it was important, given the scrutiny under which Jamaica has been placed because of the country's outstanding performances in international track and field.

Dr Wright's call was supported by Calabar High School coach Michael Clarke, even though he pointed out that putting athletes on a performance-enhancing drug programme is costly.

"Although it is very expensive for coaches to administer drugs, I support the need for drug testing to preserve the credibility of Champs in the event that there are some... world records set," said Clarke.

Both men were guests at the weekly Observer Monday Exchange meeting of reporters and editors at the newspaper's head office in Kingston.

Dr Wright, who serves on the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), said he has been trying for the past 15 years to have drug testing introduced at Champs. However, his efforts have met resistance.

"I remember going to ISSA with a proposal to do drug testing at Champs and you know what I was told? 'We have enough problems with birth certificates and you want to add another one'," Dr Wright said.

"I find that to be simply amazing," he added. "I can tell you from my days in drug testing, there are some people in this country who have no intention for drug testing to go on."

Asked whether he thought athletes took drugs to compete at Champs, Dr Wright -- who has worked with national teams in various sporting disciplines, including football, cricket, hockey and track and field -- replied: "I don't know, but we need to know."

The annual high school Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships is the biggest of its kind anywhere in the world and attracts the attention of international sport reporters, mostly because it serves as a nursery for athletes who represent Jamaica on the international circuit.

At least 35 journalists from 12 overseas media outlets covered this year's event held March 24-27 at the National Stadium in Kingston. Among the foreign media houses were Sports Illustrated, Reuters News Agency and US Fitness in the United States; The Guardian newspaper and BBC Radio from the United Kingdom; FP TV from France; Popeye Magazine out of Japan; as well as FHM Magazine and Milk Magazine from China.

Wolmer's Boys' School won this year's 100th staging of the event, while Holmwood Technical High won the girls title for the eighth consecutive year. Wolmer's' victory was historic, given that the school had taken the inaugural event and had last won the title in 1956.

Yesterday, Clarke pointed to the intrusion of past students who want their schools to win, as one of the problems faced by coaches.

"I am going to start with the fight I have with old boys. People tend to glorify stars in terms of being with them, and they try and gain their attention. Some will provide lunch money, spikes or something, and sometimes an old boy might very well pass onto a child a substance without the coach's knowledge," he noted.

"As coach, it is your responsibility to advise athletes as to what should or should not be, because a simple cough syrup for cold may just be considered to be a steroid. They are producing many kinds of drinks nowadays that are labelled boosters. A lot of times I see athletes drinking them," said Clarke who won 10 championships with three different schools.

He first won with St Jago in the 1987 then rattled up an impressive seven years with Jamaica College in the 1990s and led his alma mater, Calabar to titles in 2007 and 2008.

Clarke appeared to discount speculation that schoolboy athletes could be taking performance enhancing drugs, arguing that their coaches would have to be able to afford the hefty cost.

"If there was any use of drugs at this or any other year at Champs, for one, I know it is not cheap. It must be a coach who can access these things and it must be a treatment over a period of time and it will be very, very expensive," he said.

However, Clarke, whose son Sekou represented Jamaica College with distinction a few years ago, admitted that it was extremely difficult to monitor student athletes.

"We have very little control, and if you do, you become very unpopular," he said. "I try to have a tighter grip of my athletes because of the intrusion of these old boys that feel that they must help."

Meanwhile, Dr Wright said he was shocked to learn that drug testing was being conducted at this year's Gibson Relays in February without the involvement of JADCO.

He explained that he was treating an injured female athlete at the relays "and she told me to hurry up because she had a drug test to do. I contacted JADCO and they said they are not doing drug testing".

"I was flabbergasted to know that JADCO had nothing to do with drug testing at Gibson Relays. It was done by another group who are apparently opposed to JADCO," he said.

"There are forces pulling in different directions and it can't work," he argued.

Describing himself as a "fanatic" when it comes to drug testing, Dr Wright said he started programmes in football and among horse racing jockeys. However, the programmes went well until certain people were caught.

"The moment you catch the guy who nobody knows, it's OK," he said. However, the moment you catch the guy who is riding a winner every day, it's a problem."

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COMMENTS (8)

Marlon Gillette
4/6/2010

how much would this program cost. who would pay for this, would it be ISSA? would it be the JAAA? would this be simple Urine test or blood test? i think answering these fundamental questions would help the powers that be decide if this is feasible or not. I again state if you' redoing this to keep up appearance then that's wasting money that you could use to feed Athletes that really need it.....

Marlon Gillette
4/6/2010

I remember once overhearing Roy Bailey commenting that after he broke the then Carifta Record whilst running 20.49 Secs he was actually drug tested. The Image of Jamaica as a sprinting Icon must be protected, however instituting a policy to soothe the ire or suspicions of others is a waste of time. in other words if you're going to do something because it will appease critics then you have already lost any credibility. however , with the extremely fast times that are being run at champs I think you can compromise and probably test Athletes that produce jaw dropping times or at least class one athletes.

Anthony II
4/6/2010

San Petrek: You need to read about the problems that some school districts in the US have with teenagers taking drugs because they want to bulk up for their football teams. They started drug testing high school athletes in some Texas school districts, and I think they relented because of the cost involved. Also, if I am not mistaken, a young Jamaican school girl athlete tested positive some years ago for drugs.
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So, it is foolhardy to suggest that young people will not take drugs and drug testing only makes sense in professional sports. Champs is not simply a fun, celebratory event; it means honour and glory and adulation when you perform well. It is a stepping stone to scholarships overseas; it is the foundation for a future in world class athletics. There is a lot riding at stake at Champs.
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In addition to at least limited testing, I also support a drug education program that addresses drug use and the problems associated with that. Drug abuse for some athletes starts very earlier. Also, whenever we hear "drug testing", we all like to think immediately of performance-enhancing drugs. We need to broaden our thinking and think ganja, as one person mentioned, cocaine, and other such destructive products.

4/6/2010

Where was Dr. Wright all these years?

Hope Alive
4/6/2010

Well Ambassasor Bolt said many youngsters are smoking ganja. I guess young athletes are doing as well. I say, test them. We have a product to preserve!

San Patrek
4/6/2010

Call me cynical but drug testing for what is a celebratory high school event is simply a waste of money, time and effort. And talking of money, just who would be on the receiving end of it...might that be Dr Wright himself. Drug testing has its necessary use in professional sports but for teenagers pitting themselves against each other for the greatest incentive of a scholarship, its not strong enough a case. Health education and improving nutrition for budding athletes is what Dr Wright should be advocating for...not sticking needles into kids because they perform at a high school event. Where would it all end? Do we later ask Dr Wright to turn up at any high school sports day to have random testing. Ridiculous if you ask me. The boys and girls champs are exactly that...a championship for 'boys' and 'girls'. It is a fun event and it should be kept that way. That talents do shine through should be a bonus, but first and foremost, it should remain a challenging but fun event for 'boys' and for 'girls'.

josh davis
4/6/2010

leave the children alone..

larry simpson
4/6/2010

With every eye on Jamaica as it relates to track and field I think drug testing is a positive move. Should this become a policy I would prefer to see we begin with the testing of all winners in the first year before going all out on a random basis. With this in mind the authorities must also consider strong punishment for parents, coaches and PE teachers that are found guility of assisting any athlete with enhancement substance.

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'Test Champs athletes'