The Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) is set to focus on Code Compliance, Education and Testing in its respective Member Countries over the next six months. Patrick Werleman, Chairman of Caribbean RADO, says priority will be given to the upcoming World Anti-Doping Code Compliance Questionnaire (CCQ). The CCQ will assess how well Code Signatories have implemented the 2021 Code and International Standards.
“We are going to give our Member Countries as much support as we can in order for them to complete this questionnaire. It’s going to be a long process with some potential corrective actions coming from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). However, we will help them throughout this process. We don’t want any of our Member Countries to be deemed non-compliant,” says Werleman.
The Caribbean RADO Chairman says education, testing and training are also high on the regional agenda.
“Our Member Countries need to conduct education programmes and awareness sessions at the local level, in addition to doing comprehensive testing. We have already recertified our existing doping control officers (DCOs); and have started the process of securing training for new DCOs. We always ensure that our regional sample collection personnel can continue to function at the highest levels. We now want to increase the numbers of DCOs we have participating in major international events such as the Olympic Games and Panam Games.”
Werleman has also outlined some of the hurdles facing anti-doping programmes in the region, following the recent Caribbean RADO Annual General Meeting held in Trinidad and Tobago May 6-7, 2023.
“The main challenge remains resources – human resources as well as financial resources. We need to look for ways to increase our revenue. Although we are a not-for-profit organization, we definitely need to generate as much income as we possibly can. Although it is difficult, we are still maximizing the limited resources we have to the benefit of our Member Countries. However, we are working to improve in this area.”
The Caribbean RADO Chairman also acknowledges the difficulties faced by the small nations in our region to fully meet the extensive requirements set by international organizations. He says increased engagement with regional governments is one way the Caribbean RADO is working to boost resources in individual member countries.
Werleman has commended Member Country Representatives and Delegates for their active participation in the Capacity Building Workshop and AGM discussions where a new By-Law to govern the operations of Caribbean RADO was adopted.
While in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean RADO also engaged in courtesy visits with Hon. Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Community Development as well as Ms. Diane Henderson, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC). Both parties reiterated their commitment to the anti-doping programme in the twin-island Republic.
The Caribbean RADO expresses sincerest thanks to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the TTOC for facilitating the hosting of the 2023 Annual General Meeting. Grenada has been proposed as the host for the 2024 AGM.
