In a mere two days Jamaica will begin its quest for medals at the World Athletic Championships in the Russian city of Moscow, and all eyes will be on the high-profile stars.

Alas, the eyes will not only be on them for how well they will perform on the track or, to a lesser extent, in the field, but how they will fare with drug-testing, an activity to which all members of the squad have already been subjected since their arrival in the country that once served as the unofficial world headquarters of the political system socialism.

Jamaica’s name has been tainted in recent times by revelations that some of the island’s prominent athletes have been fingered in irregular activities, as far as the drug-testing programme is concerned.

Indeed, Brand Jamaica has been battered and bruised in such a way that we wonder what effect this will have on some of the athletes from whom we expect medal-winning performances.

No country’s athletics association can have a perfect system of drug-control, which would result in every athlete who is desirous of representing the nation coming up clean every time drug tests are done.

But, in spite of the claims made by some global media organisations, and individuals who have traversed the length and breadth of the world in their time as athletes, who have likened Jamaica to a drug-producing camp, we remain inclined to believe that the vast majority of our athletes are clean, and will remain so, based upon their dedication to the cause and their honesty.

Jamaica’s medal chances at the World Championships have been dented by the fact that sprinters Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell Brown, Sherone Simpson, and Yohan Blake will miss the Championships because of a combination of drug allegations and injury.

However, there is still reason to believe that the team will perform well, what with sprint king Usain Bolt inspiring the members, and others like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Hansle Parchment, Nesta Carter, Warren Weir, and Kaliese Spencer there to wave the black, green and gold with vigour.

We note that there was concern among Jamaicans that 41 members of the 44-strong squad were drug-tested upon arrival in Moscow, with many being led to believe that the action inspired by the World Anti-Doping Agency was a direct plan to target Jamaica in light of recent developments involving athletes who have returned adverse analytical findings in their samples.

Three other athletes, for the record, had not arrived at the camp when the tests were done.

The thinking that Jamaicans have been targeted need not be so, as WADA has all right to do whatever it pleases, to ensure that athletes are clean.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had also indicated long ago that there would be mandatory drug-testing for all athletes.

If, as we believe, our athletes have nothing to fear, then everyone should simply comply with drug-testing authorities, as they must, to ensure transparency.

Again, we are sure that our athletes will do their best for Jamaica, moreso at a time when the country is under so much pressure and immense global scrutiny.

This could well be the fillip that the nation needs at a time when the harsh economic temperature has been rising rapidly.