The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Heritage is pleased to advise that the Cayman Islands proudly concluded the Fourth World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Caribbean Sports Ministers Forum, held from 15–17 January 2025. The event brought together Sports Ministers, government officials, and anti-doping stakeholders from nine Caribbean nations, reaffirming the region’s united commitment to promoting fair play and safeguarding the integrity of sport.
Hosted for the first time in the Cayman Islands, the Forum underscored the significant role of sports in fostering unity, youth development, and national pride. It also highlighted the critical importance of anti-doping efforts in ensuring a level playing field for athletes across the Caribbean.
The Forum featured a robust agenda, some of which included roundtable discussions and presentations on:
- Progress and Achievement reports from each Caribbean nation;
- Plans for the way forward;
- Preparing for the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code; and
- WADA activities implemented in the region.
Hon. Isaac Rankine, Minister for Youth, Sports & Heritage, welcomed attendees during the Forum’s opening session, emphasizing the Cayman Islands’ unwavering commitment to WADA’s objectives. “Protecting sport and ensuring fair play are of the utmost importance to our Ministry and by extension the Cayman Islands Government. We remain dedicated to fostering a clean sport environment and to building partnerships that advance anti-doping initiatives in our region,” the Minister stated.
The Forum was also an opportunity to showcase the Cayman Islands’ proactive steps in the fight against doping. Updates were shared on local initiatives, including the Cayman’s first Out-of-Competition testing in 2024, supported by WADA’s Testing Grant. Plans were also announced to further enhance anti-doping services through inter-agency collaboration and expanded education programs.
WADA President Banka “WADA is appreciative of the efforts that are being made by the Cayman Islands Government and the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee in promoting clean sport throughout the Caribbean. This meeting has become a fixture on the anti-doping calendar and, with the high level of enthusiasm around the table, it is an energizing way to kick off the new year.”
President Banka continued, “Sport is a massive part of the culture throughout the Caribbean, with countless athletes from the region having produced iconic moments on the world stage. Caribbean nations have made great strides in establishing effective anti-doping programs to protect the integrity of those performances. I urge those nations to proactively share their insight at the Sport Council of the Americas (CADE) meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in April. The pan-continental forum provides an important opportunity to share best practices and collaborate with regional peers. It is by working together that we can continue to ensure that the anti-doping system is robust and protects the values of clean sport. We all stand to learn from one another.”
The Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Heritage is proud to have facilitated meaningful discussions and collaboration during this historic forum. The outcomes of this event will undoubtedly strengthen the region’s collective efforts to uphold the integrity of sport and support the athletes who inspire us all.
