Jamaica doping test shock as WADA begin 'extraordinary' audit

The world anti-doping body have launched an “extraordinary” audit of Jamaica’s drug-testing agency following allegations that their policing of the island’s sprinting superstars led by Usain Bolt all but collapsed in the months before London 2012.

In August, the former executive director of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission Renee Anne Shirley claimed there was a near complete breakdown in JADCO’s out‑of‑competition testing from January to July last year.

JADCO chairman Herbert Elliott dismissed Shirley’s figures as lies but the World Anti‑Doping Agency confirmed today there was, as Shirley claimed, “a significant gap of no testing” by JADCO as athletes trained ahead of the Games.

“There was a period of maybe five to six months during the beginning part of 2012 where there was no effective operation,” said WADA director general David Howman. “So we were worried about it, obviously.”

Jamaican stars did not go completely untested into the Games as track and field’s governing body, the IAAF, say they extensively tested elite Jamaicans and that Bolt was tested more than 12 times last year. History’s fastest human has never failed a drug test.