Jamaica's most senior drug tester said the country's recent failed drugs tests may be just "the tip of the iceberg," according to the London GUARDIAN. Five athletes who competed at the 2012 London Olympics "have since tested positive," including the former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell and the Olympic 4x100m Silver Medalist Sherone Simpson. Jamaica drug tester Dr. Paul Wright said, "The results are not good. This year alone the results really point the finger. Remember, all of these results except one were caught by JADCO. The problem is these people were tested positive in competition. What that means is months before you know the date of the test and the approximate time of the test." Jamaican Olympic Association President Mike Fennell "rejected Wright's comments," saying he was "being dramatic." Fennell added, "I think that's massively overstating it. There's no evidence to suggest that it's the tip of the iceberg" (GUARDIAN, 11/12).
WADA BOSS SPEAKS OUT: The BBC reported WADA President John Fahey said Jamaica has "lost its way" on drug testing for athletes. Fahey was "also critical of the attitude towards drug testing in Kenya, which has also had a number of recent failed tests." But he admitted, "There is no power whatsoever for WADA under our code to compel anyone to do certain things." WADA officials "are due to discuss their visit to Jamaica." They "could make a series of recommendations to improve the Caribbean island's anti-doping policies." One of those "will be for Jamaica's anti-doping team to be 'mentored' by a more successful agency." Fahey: "We have asked them to enter an international partnership. We've found that's been very effective in other struggling areas of anti-doping" (BBC, 11/12).
