Mr. Speaker,
I am pleased today to submit to this Honourable House the annual report and audited financial statements of the Bermuda Sport Anti-Doping Authority for the year ending 31st March 2019.
Mr. Speaker,
The International Convention Against Doping in Sport of 2005 came into force in Bermuda in June 2006. This was managed locally by the Bermuda Council for Drug-Free Sport, a Charity. The Authority as we know it today was created by the Anti-Doping in Sport Act 2011 (Act). Its function is to facilitate the control and prevention of doping in sport and thereby enable our athletes to compete on the International Stage in addition to providing Sample Collection Services for many International Sporting Events that put on competitions locally including the International Triathlon World Series Triathlon, 2018 Junior Cycling Championships and the Bermuda Marathon, to name a few.
Mr. Speaker,
This important work is done through a program of education, doping control procedures and results management. This includes following the World Anti-Doping Agency standards to establish and implement:
- Comprehensive anti-doping rules which must adhere to the WADA Code, International Standards and many guidelines.
- An extensive education programme for athletes, athlete support personnel, administrators, participants and the general public on anti-doping and the promotion of health, fairness and equity in sport.
- Detailed protocols for results management.
- Detailed protocols for Therapeutic Use Exemptions.
The Authority continues to ensure all athletes are tested under the Illicit Policy, a domestic program, prior to representing our island either locally or internationally.
Mr. Speaker,
The Act also establishes a Board of the Authority who shall:
- Monitor the administrative operations of the Authority;
- Ensure that correct protocols are followed in the process of securing samples;
- Ensure that the rights of everyone involved in the doping control procedures are respected; and
- Assist in ensuring that the Authority receives and manages funds in a prudent manner.
Mr. Speaker,
Section 17 of the Act also requires the Authority to present to the Minister a report of its proceedings for the year, including the audited accounts and for the Minister to lay the same within the House of Assembly which I do today.
Mr. Speaker,
The Auditor General has signed off on the Financial Statements stating that they present a fair view of the Authority. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a number of items from the report and audited accounts.
The Authority continues to be fully compliant with the World anti-Doping Agency requirements. Through their sample collections at local sporting events and in partnership with other National Anti-Doping Organisations from around the world the Authority has been able to ensure the testing requirements of both local and overseas based Bermudian athletes have been fulfilled. Their educational initiatives continue to be of paramount importance including providing advice to athletes and coaches on all aspects of the illicit and anti-doping programmes.
Mr. Speaker, under the Performance Enhancing Program, some eighty-three (83) samples were taken for testing during the year, seventy-three (73) urine and ten (10) blood. There were two (2) adverse analytical findings both of which related to the Body Building and Fitness Federation’s Night of Champions. There were four (4) positive results under the illicit drug policy where the substance in all four (4) cases was THC (marijuana).
The year saw an extensive compliance audit of the Authority initiated by WADA and the Authority were pleased to receive a letter stating they were in compliance from WADA in November.
Mr. Speaker,
The Authority’s revenue for the financial year is six hundred and fifty-eight thousand, six hundred dollars ($658,600) which is mainly made up of a grant of six hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($650,000) from the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation.
Expenses include some two hundred and seventy-one thousand five hundred and ninety dollars ($271,590) for the performance enhancement testing program and one hundred and thirty-three thousand, four hundred and seven dollars ($133,407) for the illicit drug screening program.
Mr. Speaker,
I would to thank the Board under the Chairmanship of Mr. Michael Smith and the staff of the Agency under the leadership of the Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Deborah Hunter for their dedication and hard work during the year. With that I now would like to lay before this Honourable House, the Bermuda Sport Anti-Doping Authority Audited Financial Statements and Report on Operations for the year ending March 31, 2019 in accordance with Section 17 of the Anti-Doping in Sport Act 2011.
Thank you Mr. Speaker!