T&T's athletes, sportsmen and women national and international must be afforded the necessary protection of a fair hearing and the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.
Issues surrounding Anti Doping jurisprudence can be quite complex and at times not easily reconciled. The athletes right to due process, rule of law and natural justice are clearly outlined in the WADA Code and Results Management Guidelines.
While the notion of Strict Liability is at the core of the athlete's liability for an adverse analytical finding.
Recent thinking recognises that there may be arguable mitigating factors.
Given legal complexities it is imperative that the right of the athlete be recognised and honoured if matters arising are to stand scrutiny on the basis of well established due process and natural justice principles.
Notwithstanding its unwavering dedication to fair play ,honest and clean sport the TTOC is duty bound to abide by the Olympic Charter and the WADA Code in all regards.
It is critical that the TTOC continue its cooperation with national sport organisations and the Ministry of Sport to ensure that the youth of the nation who participate in sport are well informed about the at times complicated issues and information that form the WADA Code and banned substance list.
The TTOC remains mindful that as much as it rigorously supported and took an active part in the process that led to the Anti Doping in Sport Legislation recent enactment and continue to work hand in hand with the Ministry of Sport and other stakeholders.
Until the National Anti doping Organisation(NADO) is established the TTOC is in effect the NADO.
This is not a situation that is comfortable,ideal nor desirable and this recognition guided the TTOC's unreserved support for the Anti Doping in Sport Legislation.
It is therefore an urgent imperative that the NADO as provided for by the Legislation be established .