Jimmy Albert the new Minister of Youth, Sports and Civic Action (MJSAC) in the presence of Dr. Hans Larsen, President of the Haitian Olympic Committee (COH), Alain Jean-Pierre, Secretary General of the COH and Ernst Jean Baptiste, Deputy Director General of MJSAC, met recently with Michael Fennell, President of the Technical Commission of the International Olympic Committee IOC-PASO (Pan American Sports Organisation) on the measures to be adopted for the establishment of a National Anti-Doping Agency in Haiti.

Mr. Fennell explained to the Minister Albert the need for the Haitian government to get involved in the creation of the National Anti-Doping Agency. He also stressed the importance of working together with the international sports world, which is committed to assist the government in the implementation of this basic structure to prevent Haitian athletes are excluded from international sporting competitions in the future.

The representative of the CIO-PASO, presented to the Minister a reference document to facilitate the formation of the National Agency and of the Committee called upon to implement the World Anti-Doping Code. He also proposed to the Minister to form a Provisional Committee, responsible for working with a regional agency on the process leading to the accession of Haiti to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The Minister Albert said he was very sensitive to the potential risks incurred by Haitian athletes and has committed to act quickly on this, saying that no effort will be spared to aside the Haitian athletes, of the danger that represents for their careers a penalty due to poor knowledge or ignorance of the obligations relating to doping. He promised to discuss this issue with the relevant authorities at first and benefit from the expertise of the COH, to work towards the formation of the Provisional Committee.

On the Agenda of the meeting, the education of athletes, the means for testing, results management, the existence of a disciplinary committee and a Court of Appeal of sports were also discussed.

BF/ HaitiLibre