THE Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) has officially included blood sample collection in its doping control process, which started last month.

The Commission will carry out the blood collection sessions in collaboration with Central Medical Laboratories Limited, a reputable phlebotomy company in Jamaica.

Carey Brown, executive director of JADCO, said in a press release that blood testing began during the month of June with the assistance of the Commission’s international partners, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES).

“The CCES was instrumental in guiding us through the process of training the relevant personnel and setting up the appropriate mechanisms to ensure blood sample collection is done according to the International Standard for Testing and Investigations,” said Brown.

He further added: “The implementation of blood testing is a step in the right direction for anti-doping in Jamaica, as this will further ensure the protection of our clean athletes.”

Paul Melia, president and CEO of the CCES, pointed out that the ability to collect blood samples, in addition to urine samples, is an integral component of an effective testing programme which protects the integrity of sport and the right of clean athletes to compete in a sport system free of doping.

“The CCES congratulates JADCO on this important development in its anti-doping efforts. We are proud to collaborate with our Jamaican colleagues in the fight against doping,” said Melia.

JADCO conducted training of Blood Collection Officers (BCOs) as part of a broader training session for sample collection personnel in November 2014. This training session was funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

JADCO now employs a total of 18 doping control officers (DCOs) and 49 Chaperones.

The addition of blood testing is another improvement in Jamaica’s testing programme, to ensure the organisation is compliant with international standards.

In March 2014, the Commission started an Athlete Biological Passport Management System, with assistance from the INRS — Institut Armand-Frappier in Montreal, Canada. It is Jamaica’s Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) for the steroidal module. This enables JADCO to monitor the samples given by athletes over time for changes in their biological parameters which could suggest doping and provide material for further investigation.