VI in on strategies to optimize World Anti-Doping Code practice at WADA Symposium

March 31, 2015 by
Director General of the WADA, David Howman speaks during the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, symposium in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. Photo: AP Photo/Keystone, Jean-Christophe Bott.

Director General of the WADA, David Howman speaks during the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, symposium in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 24, 2015. Photo: AP Photo/Keystone, Jean-Christophe Bott

Ephraim Penn, representing the VI National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) attended the 11th edition of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) annual Symposium for Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) from March 24-26 in Lausanne, Switzerland. More than 470 anti-doping experts from regions across the world met for the largest annual gathering of anti-doping practitioners.

Representatives from International Sport Federations (IFs), NADOs, Regional Anti-Doping Organizations (RADOs), Major Games Organizers, WADA’s Athlete Committee and, for the first time, from WADA accredited laboratories and the media, discussed concrete ways and means of ‘Optimizing the Practice of the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code’ – the theme of this year’s Symposium.

This year’s edition of the Symposium provided participants with a number of new features. This included a full day of practical workshops and training sessions related to education, testing, intelligence and investigations, the Athlete Biological Passport, results management, therapeutic use exemptions, ADAMS, and other key areas of the fight for clean sport.

“This symposium is extremely helpful in terms of our on-the-ground activity in the Virgin Islands,” said Penn, is a RADO board member and also sits as president of the BVIOC. “We’ve been pursuing the anti-doping education of our athletes and support community since we were officially signed on as a NADO in 2012.

“Our Doping Control Officers have conducted in- and out-of competition testing of athletes representing the VI in athletics, squash, swimming, skiing, and power lifting as required by their respective international governing bodies. Now it’s time to focus on education beyond advising and testing athletes.”

A number of discussion panels on the first day addressed topics such as the influence of the athletes, their entourage and the media on the fight against doping in sport. These sessions provided participants with the opportunity to interact with the members of WADA’s Athlete Committee, as well as a number of high-profile whistleblowers and specialized reporters.

“What was discussed over the couple of days ties in well with our plans in the VI to expand our reach deeper into the community with value-based education,” said Penn.” We have put it in an application for a local project grant from UNESCO which will help with our efforts.”

“We have entered into a new era of anti-doping,” said WADA Director General David Howman, who delivered an introductory presentation on ADOs’ responsibility following the opening address of WADA Vice President, Rev. Dr. Makhenkesi A. Stofile. “With the new Code in place, the world anti-doping community has a renewed responsibility to preserve the integrity of sport. That was the purpose of this Symposium: to get into the details of ADOs’ responsibilities and provide them with additional tools to deliver our collective promise of protecting the rights of all those who reject doping. WADA looks forward to continuing to work with all of its stakeholders in the pursuit of this mission.”

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Regional Anti-Doping Organization Tagged With: , , ,

Caribbean RADO board strengthened with legal training

September 18, 2014 by
RADO board members. Photo: Provided

RADO board members. Photo: Provided

Representing the Virgin Islands, Ephraim Penn, RADO board member and President of the BVI Olympic Committee, attended a Results Management Workshop for the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) in Georgetown, Guyana on September 7.

The workshop, which was conducted by Mr. Onye Ikwuakor, Director of Legal Affairs at the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), was undertaken to solidify the results management process across the 15 Caribbean RADO member territories. The process will ensure that the provisions of the revised World Anti-Doping Code are enforced as of January 1st, 2015 and applied fairly to all athletes and their entourage.

The Caribbean RADO also held its annual board meeting on September 6 highlighting its anti-doping education and testing programme and received reports on compliance from member countries.

Mr Penn was hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport of Guyana with support from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Addressing the opening ceremony was the Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport who thanked the organizers for showcasing Guyana’s commitment to anti-doping. Chaired by Dr. Adrian Lorde of Barbados, 14 member countries were represented at the board meeting.

The Caribbean RADO continues to ensure that all athletes who compete nationally, regionally and internationally are clean and free of prohibited substances and methods. A significant boost has been provided through a WADA Testing Grant for out-of-competition purposes which is available to all member countries. To date for 2014, nearly 100 urine tests have been collected from athletes from a range of sport disciplines, all with negative results.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Regional Anti-Doping Organization

Regional Anti-Doping efforts get an educational boost

December 19, 2013 by
Wayne Robinson, physical education teacher, Ebenezer Thomas Primary School, attended the education training in Barbados sponsored by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA

Wayne Robinson, physical education teacher, Ebenezer Thomas Primary School, attended the education training in Barbados sponsored by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA

The Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) concluded a successful two-day meeting in Barbados with its 15 member countries where Board Members and Educators met to advance anti-doping education across the Caribbean region.

Sponsored by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the education training was designed to provide member countries with specific educational tools and approaches that can be adopted and adapted to suit local realities.

Ephraim Penn, RADO board member of the British Virgin Islands, and Wayne Robinson, a physical education teacher at the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School, attended the meeting. Robinson, who was recommended for the education training by the Department of Education, will serve as the local lead in the anti-doping outreach efforts targeting students.

Rob Koehler, Director of Programme Development & Education at WADA, stressed that “it’s not all about testing….education must be the hallmark of our global efforts so that athletes understand the fundamental difference between cheating and playing fairly in all sports”.

Leading the education training was Lea Cleret, WADA’s Manager of Education, who was satisfied that participants left the training more empowered and equipped to implement anti-doping programmes in their countries.

WADA Officials also had discussions with the Hon. Stephen Lashley, Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, and Mr. Steve Stoute, President of the Barbados Olympic Association.

The Board of the Caribbean RADO also met to review this year’s operations, and to plan for 2014 ahead of the revisions to the World Anti-Doping Code that will take effect on January 1st, 2015.

Supported by the local anti-doping and medical commission and Mr Penn, Robinson will spearhead the roll out of the 2014 campaign strategy once it has been approved by RADO.

The week’s events will make a significant dent in accelerating current regional anti-doping programmes and ensure that all countries expand efforts to reach the sport fraternity, especially athletes, as comprehensively as possible.

The Caribbean RADO’s member countries include Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks & Caicos Islands and Trinidad & Tobago.

For further information, please contact Ephraim Penn, Board Member for the British Virgin Islands at (284) 4969004.

Filed Under: Regional Anti-Doping Organization
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