KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JACDO) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) have signed a 15-month long, Joint Initiative Agreement that will enable JADCO to immediately benefit from the organisation, which has over 20 years anti-doping expertise.

According to JADCO, the agreement which was signed on May 15, will enhance its capacity to implement its anti-doping programme locally and meet the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code. It will run through August 2015.

 “The Commission is pleased to consolidate its partnership with CCES and its guidance will be crucial in the further development of Jamaica’s anti-doping programme,” JADCO’s executive director, Carey Brown said in a release Monday.

“We look forward to growing and strengthening the information exchange between our organisations and to learning from the positive examples of our new international partner as we seek to preserve integrity in sport.”

President and CEO of the CCES, Paul Melia said that her organisation was pleased to assist JADCO in the development of an anti-doping programme.

 “Not only are we proud to be supporting JADCO’s efforts, this partnership also helps to ensure our Canadian athletes have confidence that all competitors continue to strive to play fair,” said Melia.

In March 2014, representatives of the CCES and WADA met with the JADCO board of commissioners and its executive officers to discuss the project plan and identify several specific areas for cooperation, JADCO said.

The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organisation with a responsibility to administer the Canadian Anti-Doping Programme.

JADCO was formally established as Jamaica’s national anti-doping organisation with the passage of the Anti-Doping in Sport Act of 2008. Its mandate is to foster a doping-free sporting environment in Jamaica.