In February 2015, Jimmy Albert Minister of Youth and Sports under the Martelly Government in the presence of Dr. Hans Larsen, President of the Haitian Olympic Committee (COH) met with Michael Fennell, President of the Technical Committee of the International Committee Olympic CIO-ODEPA (Organización Deportiva Panamericana) on the measures to be taken for the establishment of a National Anti-Doping Agency (NADO) in Haiti.

Fennell then explained to the Minister, the need for the Government of Haiti to get involved in the creation of the National Anti-Doping Agency and stressed the importance of working jointly with the international sports world, which is committed to assist the Haitian government, in the implementation of this fundamental structure to prevent Haitian athletes from being excluded from international sports competitions in the future https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13197-haiti-sports-towards-the-establishment-of-a-national-anti-doping-agency.html

Minister Albert said at this time he was very sensitive to the potential risks faced by Haitian athletes and promised to intervene quickly on this issue, saying that no effort will be spared to remove Haitian athletes from the danger that represents their career a penalty due to the lack of knowledge or ignorance of the obligations relating to doping. He promised to discuss this matter with the authorities concerned initially and to take advantage of the expertise of the COH, with a view to working on the formation of the Provisional Committee.

More than 3 years later, this structure which was supposed to be made up of 5 members (2 of the Government, 2 of the COH and a member of the bars of the bar association) still does not exist, the political promises having never been held. The political laxity of our successive governments, today puts in danger the participation of all our athletes in international competitions.

If in less than 4 months Haiti has not set up its National Anti-Doping Agency and the Committee charged with enforcing the Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), all Haitian athletes will no longer be able to participate in an official international competition starting in January 2019.

Learn more about WADA :

The World Anti-Doping Agency is headquartered in Montreal (established in 1999) and is an independent international organization that promotes, coordinates and oversees the fight against doping in sport. Scientific research, education, development of anti-doping programs, monitoring of the application of the code, harmonization of doping rules in all sports and in all countries, annual publication of the list of banned substances and methods, are its main activities and role.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13197-haiti-sports-towards-the-establishment-of-a-national-anti-doping-agency.html

BF/ HaitiLibre