I was invited by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) as an observer to the fourth WADA Conference in South Africa held during November 12 -15, 2013.

Up for closed-door discussion then were Kenya and Jamaica’s anti-doping compliance. Let me state clearly that I was not privy to any official discussion about Jamaica or Kenya, nor was I a member of the official government delegation to the conference. However I, decided to find out, using a little psychology, how much help one could reasonably expect to be extended to Jamaica by the network within WADA.

Early in the conference proceedings, I smiled at the founding president of WADA, Dick Pound, and asked, “Are you guys treating Jamaica well?” He smiled back and said something to the effect that Jamaica needs to treat itself well before anyone else can.

I moved to greet David Howman, the current director general of WADA, who received me well and introduced his wife to me. This is someone, I thought, Jamaica and the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) can liaise with since he generally goes beyond the call of duty to extend a helping hand to signatories to the WADA code.

By the second day of the conference you were hearing whispers in the conference room about what would happen to Kenya and Jamaica. Many persons thought I was from South Africa so they spoke freely about the fairness or unfairness of the WADA reports on these two nations. Unofficial talk started to go around that Jamaica was required to work with the USA as its mentor for anti-doping. On the second day of the conference Travis Tygart, director of the United States Anti-doping Agency (USADA), gave a brilliant speech on expectation and compliance. At the end of his speech, I approached him because a mutual friend said he was someone Jamaica would want to have on its side. I told him I wanted to do an anti-doping workshop at the University of the West Indies on the pending 2015 WADA code. He gave me his card and told me to contact him at any time because he feels that anti-doping education is well needed in Jamaica.

As I moved towards the door, a disguised British reporter approached and asked about the lady who had made the report about JADCO. He asked if I thought she was being prosecuted and persecuted. I asked him in return if people who spoke negatively about the Obamacare in America were being persecuted and prosecuted. I commented that Jamaica was a free society like America and Britain. I also commented that by WADA compliance standards as reported on their website, Jamaica has been compliant since signing the code. I conceded that Jamaica is the dominant country in sprinting and as such is expected to align its anti-doping efforts to sprinting status. What was expected of us before Beijing can no longer be our reality.

Usain Bolt, Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce and coaches Glen Mills and Stephen Francis have cemented and accelerated a legacy initiated by the likes of Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley. As indicated in the reformed code, Jamaica is now expected to utilise the smart sample analysis method with a testing distribution plan. This means that JADCO has to now examine risk factors associated with doping in the overall pool of Jamaican athletes.

The physiological demands of the sport and the potential performance- enhancing effects of doping have to be given weighed averages to determine proportionality. Statistical methods like regression analysis and chi-square will have to be used to check doping trends matched to risks and history within the country and region. The Jamaica testing agency is now required to prioritise between sports and disciplines.

JADCO is also required to prioritise between athletes and between testing periods to keep abreast of increased doping practices. Kenya too has to step up its anti-doping efforts. Kenya has set up a task force and has asked WADA for 60 days to make a report. Developing countries like Jamaica and Kenya with first-class runners who regularly outclass runners from developed countries are expected to have anti-doping agencies comparable to those in developed countries. As Jamaica and Kenya try to get their anti-doping agencies in top shape, the World Anti-doping Agency must be reminded that perfect should not be the enemy of good. Jamaica and Kenya have reasonably good anti-doping agencies. The world should not make them feel like cheats because much more was demanded than was clearly articulated.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr Rachael Irving is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciencies at the University of the West Indies, Mona.