WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao (CMC) – The newly re-elected Chairman of the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) Patrick Werleman wants to see active anti-doping programmes in all the organisation’s member countries, and says he will be aiming to do that over his new term of leadership.

The member country representative for Aruba was returned unopposed during RADO’s recent 2022 Annual General Meeting in Curaçao. He has since said that the organization’s main objectives over the next three years include improving communication with various key stakeholders, and the further development of anti-doping programmes in the 18- member countries.

“Every member country should have an active anti-doping programme that includes a solid education plan, and of course testing. These are the basic requirements for compliance with the [World Anti-Doping] Code. Education is the fundamental tool to create awareness, so this should be an area of focus in each member country,” he said.

Werleman, who thanked members for entrusting him with a second term, particularly after the negative impact of the coronovirus pandemic on anti-doping programmes in the region, said he also wants to develop additional strategic partnerships to positively impact RADO’s sustainability.

Werleman is joined on the executive committee by returning Vice Chairman – Dr Adrian Lorde of Barbados along with Directors Dr Karen Pilgrim of Guyana and Ephraim Penn of the British Virgin Islands who were all re-elected unopposed.

There is one new member on the executive committee as Rheeza Grant of Trinidad and Tobago was also elected unopposed for the remaining vacant position of director.