The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) concluded another series of Junior Athletes Anti- Doping Education Workshops at the Port Maria Civic Centre in St Mary on Wednesday.

Speaking at the workshop in St Mary, student athlete Shamagay Myers of Ferncourt High School in St Ann, said, “The workshop was very timely, as it will now help me to improve my preparation for next year’s athletics season.”

Also speaking at the workshop, Clevon Patterson, physical education teacher and coach at the Annotto Bay High School in St Mary, expressed satisfaction with the content of the workshop. “The workshop was very informative and can help to create a level playing field where students are concerned. I will certainly share the doping control procedures and processes with others at my school.”

The commission, in its drive to equip its target audience with the requisite anti-doping knowledge, hosted four additional workshops for junior athletes and their support personnel across the island during the month of October. These workshops were held at the Jamaica Conference Centre (JCC), Kingston on October 1; GC Foster College, St Catherine, Wednesday, October 8; STETHS, St Elizabeth, Wednesday, October 15 at the Wexford Hotel, St James, on Wednesday, October 22.

The workshops included presentations on the functions and responsibilities of JADCO, the doping control process, banned substances and nutrition for athletes. Presentations on banned substances were delivered by Medical Practitioners Dr Paula Dawson, Dr Alfred Dawes, Dr Lincoln Cox and Dr Tanya Hamilton. The segment on nutrition for athletes was delivered by members of the Jamaica Association of Professionals in Nutrition and Dietetics (JAPINAD).

JADCO also used the workshops to launch its Mascot Competition for secondary school students. They will be required to design a mascot for use in the commission’s promotional activities and the winner and runners-up will be rewarded with cash prizes. Entries will close on January 16, 2015.

JADCO will host its inaugural Senior Athletes Anti-Doping Education Workshop on Saturday, November 22, 2014, at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston.