Bach Plans New Strategy to Fight Doping Cheats -- On the Scene

(ATR) The IOC president on Friday proposed new testing, results and intelligence gathering bodies for WADA to root out the drug cheats in the build-up to Rio 2016.

In a speech at the European Olympic Committee general assembly in Prague, Bach said the testing and results management organization " should be set up independent from the monitoring and regulatory functions of WADA".

Sports organizations would transfer their anti-doping systems to this organization which would also coordinate the work of the national anti-doping agencies "to ensure a streamlined, efficient and worldwide harmonized anti-doping system".

He urged governments, who provide 50 percent of funding for the World Anti-Doping Agency, to throw their support behind the initiative "both logistically and financially".

An intelligence gathering unit should be established within this new body, Bach told delegates at the EOC meeting. The unit "should address issues with regard to the compliance of anti-doping agencies and anti-doping laboratories accredited by WADA".

The IOC chief proposes that sanctions be handed down only by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"In such a way also the system of sanctions would be centralized, be cost-efficient and lead to harmonization among all sports and among all countries," Bach said. "The current right to appeal such sanctionsto a different chamber of CAS would be fully upheld and guaranteed."

Bach’s proposals stem from the consensus reach at the Olympic Summit in October to make the anti-doping system more independent of sports organizations.

He said the IOC had already taken measures to step up the fight against doping in the run-up to the Rio Olympics.

"WADA will lead intelligence gathering funded by the IOC to make testing in the lead up to the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro as efficient and independent as possible," he said.

"Out-of-competition testing during the Olympic Games will also be guided by this intelligence group from WADA to make it more targeted and effective," Bach added. "As in previous Olympic Games, WADA observers will also supervise all aspects of the doping control program at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro."

Bach talked briefly about his recent discussion with Russian NOC president Alexander Zhukov focusing on solutions to what the WADA Independent Commission chair Richard Pound labeled state-sponsored doping.

"This morning, president Zhukov has informed me that some steps have been taken to sanction the doped athletes," Bach announced.

In the wake of the devastating WADA report on systemic doping in Russia, Bach had a clear message for the 50 NOCs of Europe in attendance at the EOC meeting.

"I would like to urge all of you to go the extra mile in your anti-doping before the Rio de Janeiro Games," he said.

"Make your program tighter, do one test more than one test less in your national Olympic committees anti-doping."

Reported by Brian Pinelli in Prague and Mark Bisson

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