Reprinted from Jamaica Gleaner
KC Old Boy was head of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission
President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Dr Warren Blake says the death of former chairman of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) Herb Elliott is a massive blow to sports in Jamaica.
Dr Elliott, 85, who was ailing for some time, died on Friday. A Kingston College Old Boy, Dr Elliott, who served on the International Amateur Athletics Federations’ (IAAF, now World Athletics) doping panel for 16 years and played an integral role in the establishment of JADCO.
“Herb was my personal friend and mentor because when I joined the JAAA it was under his tutelage,” said Dr Blake. “It is really a big loss to Jamaica, because Herb helped to pioneer the anti-doping movement in Jamaica long before the advent of JADCO,” he said.
“He set up the anti-doping plan for athletes in Jamaica and he did all the work before JADCO was founded and when JADCO came in, he was appointed to the board and he served on that for quite some time,” Dr Blake said.
He also noted that Dr Elliott worked very hard to improve the healthcare facilities in Jamaica for many years. “He also worked tirelessly in Jamaica’s public health system and so it is really a great loss to track and field and Jamaica and the JAAA is saddened by his loss,” said Blake.
INDELIBLE CONTRIBUTION
Meanwhile, former president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) Mike Fennell, who had a close relationship with Dr Elliott, said he has made an indelible contribution not only to sports in Jamaica, but also to the medical services in the country.
“It is very sad because I worked for a very long time with Dr Elliott and I respect the contribution that he has made to sports for many years,” said Fennell. “He did it at the local level and he did it at the world level being involved with anti-doping situation as well at the IAAF,” he said.
“He was also on the medical commission of Commonwealth Games Federation when I was the president of that body and I have had a long and very rewarding working relationship with him for many years,” Fennell said who served as president of the JOA for 45 years.
Dr Elliott, Jamaica’s team doctor at the very successful 2008 Beijing Olympics, was inducted into the Caribbean and Central American Athletics Confederation’s Hall of Fame in 2003.