SPAIN: IOC and WADA urge full doping code compliance

The International Olympic Committee and the anti-doping watchdog WADA urged governments and international federations on Thursday (November 15) to do more to comply with an anti-doping code saying doping was an "epidemic". At the opening of the Third World Conference on Doping in Sport, IOC President Jacques Rogge said doping was spreading to teenagers and pre-teenagers according to recent studies. "Doping is one of the most serious threats the Olympic movement has ever seen. It undermines all we stand for," Rogge told an international audience of governments and international sports federations. "It is not only about testing and sanctioning well known athletes -it is about the health and the future of our population. It is therefore a public health problem," he said. The efforts of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which will adopt a revision of its doping code during the three-day conference, have been hampered by a reluctance of governments and several international federations to adopt the code. WADA has threatened some sports could be dropped from future Games if their federations insisted on doing nothing to fight doping. Rogge repeatedly urged all governments to assume their full responsibility by ratifying the UNESCO convention. Doping this year marred the Tour de France cycling event with several leading riders thrown out after testing positive while former Olympic champion Marion Jones admitted to drugs use prior to her five-medal haul at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. "Your actions this week will reflect the nature of your resolve and your place in history," outgoing WADA chief Dick Pound said. "We cannot afford to take a leisurely approach, we cannot be satisfied with the status quo -we must continue to attack and with a sense of urgency. The risk of this epidemic is not theoretical -it is a certainty for society at large and it results in an all too horrible human tragedy for some. There are no short cuts, no magic bullets, there are none of the quick fixes that the media love. It will take new and bold thinking," said Pound, whose successor will be elected on Saturday (November 17). The revised doping code to be adopted also on Saturday foresees tougher sanctions for systematic, planned or "aggravated" doping with potential four-year bans as opposed to the current two years. It also offers plea bargains to offenders providing information on doping and more leniency for accidental drug-taking. On the sidelines of the doping conference, an IOC commission chairman, Thomas Bach, said that the disciplinary commission will be ready to propose how the medals of U.S. sprinter Marion Jones will be awarded once the IAAF ratifies her disqualification. U.S. sprinter Jones, who won five medals including three golds at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, confessed to having taken performance-enhancing drugs, after years of speculation and now could face jail time for lying to federal investigators. The International Olympic Committee has ruled out any automatic upgrading of athletes saying each one will be checked prior to being awarded a medal. Samples of medals winners are kept for a period of eight years after the Games and could potentially contain drugs that could not be traced at the time. "We are ready to propose a decision to the (IOC) executive board in December if IAAF is coming to a conclusion after their meeting on November 23," Bach, also an IOC vice-president, told reporters. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is responsible for ratifying and changing athletics results and must first officially approve the changes before the IOC can rule on the medals. Bach also said that IOC will be ready to make a recommendation between the November 23 and early December. The next IOC Executive Board meeting is set for December 10-12 when a decision is widely expected. Jones, the first woman to claim five medals at a single Olympics, won gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x400 meters relay in Sydney. She took bronze medals in the long jump and 4x100 meters relay. Among those in the running for a gold medal is Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou who finished second to Jones in the 100 meters. Thanou was herself banned for two years after she failed to appear for a drugs test at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

ITN Source | November 16, 2007

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