Fourth Annual World Anti-Doping Agency Forum For Sports Ministers In The Caribbean Region Being Hosted In The Cayman Islands For The First Time

By Alric Lindsay

Yesterday, January 15, 2025, the fourth annual World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) forum for sports ministers in the Caribbean region kicked off at the Hotel Indigo on Grand Cayman.  It is the first time the Cayman Islands is hosting the forum. 

Purpose of the forum

According to the organisers, the forum’s purpose is “to strengthen regional efforts in the Caribbean to combat doping in sport while promoting fair play and athlete welfare.”

Expanding on the reasons for the forum in the Cayman Islands, WADA President Witold Banka said:

In the next [couple of] days, we’re going to discuss how we can strengthen the anti-doping system in the region, what we can do more for the athletes.

We’re going to discuss our policies, the changes to our rules for the non-doping code, the roadmap of the changes of our world anti-doping code.

Banka added:

We [are] going to discuss how collectively, how we can together make a difference for the athletes in the region.

Banka stressed, however, that without strong support from the Government, WADA will be unable to achieve its mission.

Banka explained:

Governments are responsible for the anti-doping policy in their respective countries.

So, without the commitment of the governments in the countries, without their engagement, funding and so on, there is no chance to have a strong anti-doping system.

Acknowledging the support for WADA’s anti-doping efforts, Isaac Rankine, the Minister for Sports in the Cayman Islands, said:

I’m delighted to welcome to our shores the World Anti-Doping Agency, known as WADA, along with a host of other sports ministers and government officials from across nine Caribbean nations.

This is a significant occasion for the Cayman Islands as we host, for the first time ever, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 4th Caribbean Sports Ministers Forum.

The Minister for Sports added:

Sports has always played an integral role in our country, helping to develop youth, bringing our people together and fostering a sense of national pride. Therefore, protecting sport and ensuring fair play are of the utmost importance to the Ministry and, by extension, the Cayman Islands government. As such, I wish to reaffirm that the Cayman Islands is committed to borders anti-doping initiatives and objectives.

He continued:

We will continue to collaborate with member nations and support the Cayman Islands Medical Anti-Doping Commission and will continue their initiatives to ensure our compliance with international requirements.

During the forum, we will engage in important discussions that will shape the future of keen sports in our region.

I am particularly looking forward to hearing the progress reports from all of the Caribbean nations and seeing how this forum will further solidify our regional cooperation in anti-doping efforts leading to tangible actions that protect the integrity of sports across the Caribbean.

The current state of Cayman’s compliance with anti-doping policies

Regarding progress reports, Blackbox Insights & News asked WADA President Banka whether any anti-doping regulations in Cayman could be improved.

Banka said:

Currently, when you look at the Cayman Islands, there is no particular issues. Cayman Islands are compliant with the word anti dopamine code.

So, when you ask me about something which is not in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code, in your country, there is nothing which is not in accordance with the standards, as far as I know. We don’t have any… legal problems with our colleagues from [the] Cayman Islands.

Notwithstanding the stated compliance of the Cayman Islands with the anti-doping code, Banka noted that generally speaking, “There is always room for improvement.”

Measuring the success of WADA’s anti-doping initiatives

Regarding WADA’s measure of the success of its initiatives aimed at regularly improving anti-doping policies, Banka said:

Well, I mean, it’s a difficult question because, you know… the question is, what is the achievement of system? Whether we’re going to have a more positive test or less positive test. That’s the fundamental question.

He added:

Speaking about the region, I have to say I’m going to measure it. How many more educational actions we have in the region, how much money governments spend on the testing activities.

How many athletes do you test or whether the law are in accordance with [the anti-doping code].

How many compliance issues do we have in the region? So how many countries are compliant or not compliant with the code?

That’s very legal, technical things, which are extremely important for us, from one perspective, to measure whether we see the progress and development.

It is expected that these issues and new ideas will be discussed by the nine or so countries attending the WADA forum this week.

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