More than 80 representatives of the international media and the international sports movement gathered last week at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (SUI) to examine media and communications issues surrounding the fight against doping in sport. The specific goal of the WADA-hosted Symposium was to allow the media to learn more about the advances made to-date in anti-doping as well as about current opportunities and challenges. Following an introductory address by Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, the participants heard Richard Pound, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency, to discuss the state of anti-doping. Then, David Howman, Director General, and Dr. Olivier Rabin, Science Director of WADA, discussed the organization's priorities and specific role in science and research.
Inevitably, much of the discussion centered on the review & consultation process currently underway for the World Anti-Doping Code (The Code), expected to culminate at the Third World Conference on Doping in Sport taking place in Madrid, Spain, in November 2007. The presentations also highlighted the importance WADA is placing on intelligent, targeted doping testing and championing the so-called Athlete's Passport project for longitudinal follow-up of certain individual blood and urine parameters in addition to doping test results. The continued, enhanced cooperation between the sports movement and government agencies in investigating doping cases, as well as the role of governments in ratifying the Code and amending their national legislation on doping, was also highlighted.
Source: FIS
