Dr. Herb Elliott (left), a member of the International Amateur Athletics Federation's Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, converses with Dr. Patrece Charles-Freeman (centre), head of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission and Donald Reynolds, president of the Rotary Club of Kingston, during the club's weekly luncheon, held yesterday at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Dr. Herb Elliott, a member of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, wants the Jamaican government to ban smoking in public places, especially at sporting events.

"Smoking should be banned from public spaces, from restaurants and bars," Dr. Elliott, told reporters, yesterday, following the Rotary Club of Kingston's weekly meeting at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Citing a case where an athlete had a positive reading for marijuana, after hanging out with friends who were smoking the substance, Dr. Elliott said a ban on smoking in public places would protect athletes and other members of the society.

No smoking in sporting arenas

"What we would like to see ... is to ban smoking in all sporting arenas. That way we will get rid of smoking and the marijuana," Dr. Elliott told the gathering.

Several European countries have banned smoking in public places. These include France, Italy, England, Sweden and Ireland.

Dr. Elliott said legislation to eliminate doping in sports would come on stream by the end of March and before the Olympics in Beijing, China, which would get under way in August.

He noted that the draft was before the Chief Parliamentary Council.

Under the legislation, he said, there would be three panels, the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission, which would pilot the programme, the Jamaican Anti-Doping Interdisciplinary Panel, and the Jamaica Anti-Doping Appeal Panel.

Dr. Patrece Charles-Freeman has been appointed head of the Anti-Doping Commission. Other staff members are to be announced at a later date.

"We have a doping society. Sports mirrors the rest of society. What is happening in sports is that there is a large amount of money involved in sports and, therefore,people looking for glory think they can get an edge on their opponent by taking something that will give them that edge," Dr. Elliott said.

Sanctions

He said the World Anti-Doping Agency and UNESCO sanctions would be used for athletes who violated the laws.

He said that bilateral arrangements would be established with the United States and Europe to test Jamaican athletes while they were in competition.

Dr. Elliott said Jamaica was expected to get a reduced price from a Montreal laboratory to test the samples at US$350 ($4,500) per test.

He told the gathering that the Govern-ment would spend more than $40 million in carrying out the testing programme this year, $20 million of which was already available.