07/04/2003 Global Drug Code Is Adopted by IOC By SUSANNA LOOF
A new global code against drugs in sports was approved Friday by the IOC. The World Anti-Doping Code, adopted in March by sports bodies and governments, sets out uniform rules and sanctions for all sports and countries. The code, drawn up the World Anti-Doping Agency, was approved by acclamation on the final day of the IOC general assembly. The IOC changed its charter to replace its own medical code with the global version. The world anti-doping code is the first international policy against banned performance-enhancing substances. It was endorsed at a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The code calls for two-year suspensions for steroid or other serious drug offenses. WADA is also considering whether to add an "exceptional circumstances" clause to the sanctions. Sports organizations are required to enact the code before next year's Athens Olympics. Governments have until the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. IOC member Dick Pound, also the WADA chairman, criticized those governments that have yet to contribute their share to WADA's $21 million budget. The United States, France, Spain and Italy are among those failing to pay so far. Payments were due at the end of 2002 but WADA has received only a little more than half the money. The United States has said it will make its $1 million payment this year. Pound urged delegates to pressure their governments. Research to prevent genetic doping was among the programs suffering because of budget problems, he said. Later, Pound said he and IOC president Jacques Rogge had discussed punishing delinquent governments by refusing to let their teams march under their national flag at Olympic opening ceremonies, or by refusing government officials accreditation to the games. The sanctions could be introduced during the 2004 Athens Games, he added. "There'll be governments that say, 'Wait a minute, you mean I'm going to have to explain to my people at home and to my athletes why they can't march behind their flag in the opening ceremonies?'" Pound said. "Even the thought of that would attract my attention if I were a sports minister." The IOC, which has committed to match all government contributions, also has been slow to pay, Pound said. As of Friday, the IOC has paid about $6 million of its $10.5 million share, he said. Also Friday, the IOC streamlined the disciplinary procedure for doping cases during the Olympics. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, an inquiry commission and a disciplinary panel investigated before passing the case to the IOC executive board. Under the new system, a single commission will investigate. The executive board can delegate power to the panel to decide punishments. IOC vice president Thomas Bach said the change would avoid the problems of Salt Lake, where some athletes who tested positive were allowed to compete because their cases had not been resolved. The changes also gave the disciplinary committee and the executive board the option of considering the Olympics "as being one event" to "withdraw all medals from athletes who fail tests in one competition," Bach said. The change was a response to the case of Johan Muehlegg, the German-born Spanish cross-country skier who won three gold medals in Salt Lake City. He was stripped of his gold medal in the 50K event after testing positive for darbepoetin, but was allowed to keep two other golds because earlier tests had been negative. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com
