The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IN “moving forward,” the Amateur Boxing Association of the Bahamas held a one-day symposium in the National Boxing Centre at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex where the sport officially signed on with the Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission.

The commission was established on July 31, 2003 and is responsible for:

• Facilitating the control and prevention of doping in sports;

• Implementing the policies and programmes of the Government against doping in sports;

• Doing all things necessary to comply with and implement the Articles of the Anti-Doping Code;

• Making rules for controlling the occurrence of doping in Sports.

Roscow Davies, a member responsible for education and training, and veteran journalist Frederick Sturrup, whose role is for public relations and media, were on hand to sign the agreement with the ABAB’s president Wellington Miller and secretary general George Turner.

Timothy Munnings, director of sports, represented the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson.

“From we took over officially in 2010, one of the things we wanted to do is to develop a connection with all of the federations so that we can partner with each one of them,” Sturrup said. “After we established the disciplinary panel, we went to the federations to get them on board Cycling was the first to join. We’ve had some resistance from some of the other sports, but now we have five organisations, including cycling, track and field, softball, powerlifting, swimming and boxing, all of whom have joined up with us. The importance of this is to see how ready the organisations are in passing on the information to their members so that we can have some clean sports in the Bahamas.”

Sturrup and Davies gave the information to the ABAB members present, including executives and representatives from associations in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Inagua. They also engaged in a healthy and lively discussion as they fielded various questions from the audience.

“From an educational aspect, it was important for us to get the information out so persons can have more confidence in the anti-doping commission,” Davies said. “Education is the key. That’s why we try to make sure that the information is available and we are able to encourage them to visit our website at www.bahamasadc.com where they can get more information.”

Davies said the BADC intends to take their message from Grand Bahama to Inagua to ensure that everybody is abreast of the latest developments in the World Anti-Doping Code, as mandated by the World Anti-Doping Association or WADA.

Munnings said he was very encouraged by the efforts of the ABAB.

“It follows the Ministry of Sports’ conclave where they are now focusing on a lot of things that we want them to do in the way forward with anti-doping and women in sports,” Munnings said. “It’s important that all of the sports do like boxing and take the time to see where they are, what they are doing and where they are going. The minister wants to make the Bahamas a sports destination and for this to happen, it’s important for everyone to focus on what they are doing. What they did today by signing on to the BADA goes a long way in the integrity of the Bahamas both locally and internationally.”

ABAB president Wellington Miller said their symposium was very timely because they are at a pivotal point in their organisation.

“We have a lot of new boxers, so we have to make sure that they are well informed on what’s happening out there, especially the anti-doping and they are up to date on the new rules of AIBA,” Miller said. “That’s why we invited Grand Bahama and Inagua to be here. Time has changed. So we have to be on the cutting edge to be able to dispense the information to all of our members.”

Each of the three islands were able to present a progress report on their developments, while assistant secretary Ikanna Johnson spoke passionately about the way forward for women in the sports.

Arthur Missick, the newly elected first vice president of the Grand Bahama Amateur Boxing Association, ASP Brown, the president of the Inagua Amateur Boxing Association and Levan Hinsey, the president of the New Providence Amateur Boxing Association, all spoke on behalf of their respective organisations.

Alvin Sargent, a vice president of the AIBA and the highest ranking referee and judge in the Bahamas, made a presentation on the computer scoring system, while George Turner made a presentation on behalf of the ABAB.

The ABAB also presented Sargent with his Grade II referee certification certificate, while national coach Andre Seymour was presented with his Grade III coaching certification. Not present to receive his Grade 1 coaching certification was Floyd ‘Pretty Boy’ Seymour.

One of the key issues that many of the participants were concerned about was the way forward in terms of national boxing events.

Floyd Seymour, a coach from Inagua, said his boxers are always ready to compete, but it’s difficult for them to compete.

“It’s easy for us to come here and compete because whenever we host an event there (in Inagua), we have to shoulder the burden of all of the expenses,” Seymour said. “But there are not that many tournaments here for us to compete in. We’re happy when we do come because for the most part, Ray Minus Jr has been able to accommodate us with fights.”

Former amateur-turned pro boxer Meacher “Pain” Major suggested that in moving forward, the association should look at ways of giving Minus Jr the kind of support and recognition that he deserves because at present, he’s the only one in the ABAB who is constantly putting together tournaments for local boxers.