The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) is rolling out a number of public education initiatives to inform athletes and support personnel of various changes regarding anti-doping rules.

Among these are symposiums, workshops, quarterly television features and monthly radio programmes.

With revisions to the World Anti-Doping Code, the Anti-Doping in Sport Act, 2014 and the 2015 Anti-Doping Rules, Executive Director of JADCO, Carey Brown, says the agency will be working throughout the year to educate persons about the rules.

The agency last month held a symposium under the theme: ‘Exploring the New and Improved World Anti-Doping Code’, which included presentations from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) representatives.

Speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Mr. Brown promised that others will be held throughout the year as JADCO does its “duty to ensure that everybody understands the new rules and guidelines.”

The Executive Director noted that JADCO’s public education drive has been further strengthened with the launch of its website six months ago.

“Our public education programme has been strengthened significantly, especially with the launch of our website. Our athletes across the world are able to access information not only about international standards, but about our rules as well as the Anti-Doping in Sport Act,” he said.

The agency has also introduced junior and more recently, senior athletes’ anti-doping workshops, where athletes get the opportunity to interact with anti-doping experts and medical doctors and have their questions answered.