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WADA acknowledges anti-doping progress in the Caribbean during annual Forum with Ministers Responsible for Sport

caribbean forum

This week, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President, Witold Bańka, was in George Town, Cayman Islands, for the fourth annual WADA Forum with Ministers Responsible for Sport in the Caribbean. 

The Forum, which was co-hosted by the Government of the Cayman Islands, featured ministers and high-ranking officials from nine countries, as well as the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (Caribbean RADO) and Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES). The forum is part of a series of events that WADA has been holding to gather and exchange views with Governments around the world.  

In his opening address, Mr. Bańka thanked the hosts, represented by the Hon. Isaac Rankine, MP, Minister for Youth, Sports & Heritage, and the other participants for their dedication in implementing clean sport initiatives in the Caribbean region. He said: “WADA is appreciative of the efforts that are being made by the Cayman Islands Government and the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee in promoting clean sport throughout the Caribbean. This meeting has become a fixture on the anti-doping calendar and, with the high level of enthusiasm around the table, it is an energizing way to kick off the new year. 

“Sport is a massive part of the culture throughout the Caribbean, with countless athletes from the region having produced iconic moments on the world stage. Caribbean nations have made great strides in establishing effective anti-doping programs to protect the integrity of those performances. I urge those nations to proactively share their insight at the Sport Council of the Americas (CADE) meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in April. The pan-continental forum provides an important opportunity to share best practices and collaborate with regional peers. It is by working together that we can continue to ensure that the anti-doping system is robust and protects the values of clean sport. We all stand to learn from one another.”  

Mr. Bańka also highlighted the progress made across the Caribbean in 2024, noting that for the first time all Caribbean countries collected test samples from athletes. He emphasized the role of testing as the cornerstone of a credible anti-doping program and the importance of maintaining that standard in the region.  

Specifically, the forum’s agenda focused on: 

  • The progress made in the Caribbean region in 2024;  
  • An overview of the anti-doping programs implemented in the region;  
  • An update on the partnership between the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) and the Caribbean RADO;  
  • The future of anti-doping in the Caribbean and the roadmap for 2025;  
  • Anti-doping program funding; and 
  • The 2027 World Anti-Doping Code Update. 

Minister Rankine said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the World Anti-Doping Agency to the Cayman Islands for the first time. This meeting is critical in laying the foundation for the year ahead, as we assess what has worked in the past while setting objectives for the future. The Forum encourages us all to positively influence clean sport policy and support the initiatives of the anti-doping organizations in the region. The discussions held this week have invigorated all of us to ensure that athletes here in the Caribbean and around the world are competing on the same level playing field.” 

During his visit to the Cayman Islands, Mr. Bańka also met with the Premier of the Cayman Islands and Minister for Finance, Education, District Administration, Lands and Cabinet Office, the Honourable Juliana Yvonne O'Connor-Connolly, to discuss the current state of anti-doping in the country.