Given the possible connection of a Bahamian doctor, or two, to the distribution of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), and the connection of at least one of them to a regional anti-doping board in bodybuilding and fitness, the highest ranking Bahamian administrator in that discipline is speaking out in his defense, and of the anti-doping efforts in this region.
Danny Sumner, vice president of the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (CACBBFF) and president of the Antilles area, said that he was the one who brought the said doctor into bodybuilding and fitness and was instrumental in his election as chairman of the CAC Medical Doping Advisory Board. In addition, Sumner said that because of the stringent measures in place, the joint sporting discipline of bodybuilding and fitness is one of the cleanest in this region. He has the utmost confidence in the team in hand to effectively conduct regular tests on athletes and submit the appropriate samples to a legitimate laboratory.
"All of our anti-doping policies are conducted in conjunction with WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), and that was enforced about three to four years ago. Even before that, the IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) and the CAC were linked to WADA for a number of years, so drug testing in this region in bodybuilding and fitness is nothing new," said Sumner. "Regular drug testing was mandatory from as long as I could remember. Every athlete had to be drug tested before they go to the CAC. Now, it's even more strenuous than before. We are completely under WADA system. Everything is being directed by WADA in terms of how our anti-doping measures are taking place.
"As for the doctor, he is a professional doctor and a very good one. He is still on the CAC medical doping board and has contributed a lot to enhance that program. He has done a good job in terms of his contribution to clean sports in this region."
Certain eyebrows were raised after the Al Jazeera America 50-minute documentary entitled "The Dark Side: Secrets of the Sports Dopers" was released. In that report, The Bahamas was mentioned as a hub for the transmission of PEDs to the United States, and two men who were alleged to be Bahamian doctors gave damning testimonies while being secretly recorded. One of the two is said to be the Bahamian doctor who serves as chairman of the CAC Medical Doping Advisory Board in bodybuilding and fitness.
"In bodybuilding and fitness in the region, we're all about the clean sports approach," said Sumner. "There is always a WADA official at the CAC Championships, just to see what is going on and that the proper measures are in place. There is no getting around that," he added. "The goal right now is to create a brighter image for the new athletes coming into the sport. We want to make the sport as attractive as possible. Remember, the sport of bodybuilding and fitness is still looking to become a part of the Olympic schedule. One of the major things was to have a strong anti-doping stance, and we have done that. The positive testing has dropped dramatically in the sport in this region, and that is because of the measures in place. We believe that amateur bodybuilding is one of the cleanest sporting disciplines in this region."
Last year, the CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships were held right here in The Bahamas, hosted by the new administration of the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (BBFF). No positive drug tests were reported from those championships. Sumner, who is the immediate past president of the BBFF, said that their goal going forward is to continue to promote the sport in this region and to push their "clean sports" agenda, thereby doing their part to get the sport inserted into the Olympic program.

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