After three days of intensive training ARUNADO (Aruban Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Commission) meets, after 7 years, again a new group of five Doping Control Officers. This new group consists of 2 males and 3 females.
The Doping Control Officer (DCO), as required by the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), is the only person authorized to collect samples (urine) from an athlete for doping control. This is the way to monitor and ensure that an athlete is free from doping and practices fair play.
A Doping Control Officer has the task and responsibility to ensure that the doping control process takes place in accordance with the strict criteria set out in the World Anti-Doping Code. The process consists of several steps including: notification of the athlete, collection of the sample, preparation of all documentation and sending the sample to an accredited laboratory.
The three-day training consisted of two parts: a theoretical part and a practical part. These were given in a very relaxed environment in which the beginning students asked many questions and brought forward many scenarios that could be encountered during the doping control process. At the end of the third day the students had to take a theoretical and practical exam.
All five students passed the exams with very high marks for which the facility expressed its pride in how well the students scored. The training was facilitated by the Caribbean RADO accredited Doping Control Officer with extensive international experience, Angelique Koolman.
The Doping Control Officers who completed the training are: Azriah Palm, Marco Dupersoy, Corina Boekhoudt, Shari-Ann Phillips and Shariënne Winterdaal (best geslaagde). They received their certificates from representatives of the Aruban Olympic Committee, Sr. Zulema Erasmus and Mr. Maarten Willems and also representative of Stichting Sportsubsidie Aruba, Mr. Tito of Cuba.
The Aruban Olympic Committee congratulates each new Doping Control Officer on the excellent achievement and wishes them every success in the doping control they will execute. An important and valuable work to keep sport free of doping.
He also thanks Stichting Sportsubsidie Aruba for making the funds available to organize this important training. Finally, a word of thanks to Angelique Koolman who again did a great job as facilitator of the Doping Control Officer’s Training.
