Sport Minister Announces T&T’s Antidoping Compliance To UNESCO

Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis recently announced to UNESCO Trinidad and Tobago’s compliance with international anti-doping standards. The Minister made the announcement in her presentation to the 9th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP9) to the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport held on October 25th – 26th 2023 at the UNESCO Headquarters, Paris.

Minister Cudjoe-Lewis in her presentation expressed, “When I first participated in this conference in 2019, Trinidad and Tobago was listed as non-compliant. Today, I am pleased to report that we have made significant strides and we are no longer on the non-compliance list. We amended and passed our National Anti-doping legislation in June of this year and we are now current and fully compliant as it relates to the relevant requirements for the legislative framework.”

The Anti-doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill was passed on 19th June 2023 on the cusp of Trinidad and Tobago’s maiden hosting of the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG). The process was aided significantly by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) who were both highly commended by the Minister in her address to the conference.

Among the key items for consideration at the COP9 statutory conference were; sport values, ethics and integrity; use of the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport and sustainable resource mobilization; and strengthening the capacity of small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs).

While acknowledging the need for financial support, the Sport Minister issued a call for urgent technical and training support for SIDS like Trinidad and Tobago. “I must state that the challenges we face are not always financial. There is an urgent and dire need for technical support and assistance in training officers required to stand on the frontline and lead the charge in the fight against doping in sport” Minister Cudjoe-Lewis said. She further requested that UNESCO and WADA double their efforts in providing technical support to SIDS and LDCs who face insurmountable difficulties in attaining and maintaining compliance.

The Minister highlighted Jamaica as being a leading light in the area of sport excellence in the region, and commended their steadfast support in sport development, the promotion of clean sport and technical cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago and the wider region to improve anti-doping profiles. Close collaboration with the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) is anticipated in establishing the Trinidad and Tobago Anti-Doping Organisation (TTADO).

Occurring every two years, ordinary sessions of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the International Convention against Doping in Sport aim to address the evolving challenges within the world of sport and anti-doping.

Trinidad and Tobago is among 191 states party to the Anti-Doping Convention who participate in the conference.

The Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, Minister of Sport and Community Development at the 9th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP9) to the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.