Lengthy Doping Debate at IOC Session -- On the Scene

Delegates at the IOC Session propose more targeted testing and better education for athletes to combat drug cheats.

‘Protecting clean athletes’ was one of the sub-topics under the ‘Athletes – at the heart of the Olympic Movement’ theme discussed Wednesday afternoon.

There were plenty of interventions, some from new IOC members with other contributions from old heads. Support came for athletes taking an increased role in governance, through the bid phase and in an OCOG’s structure and promoting but protecting their roles in Olympic opening ceremonies.

Moroccan IOC Executive Board member Nawal El Moutawakel opened an interesting debate on doping. She said seamless cooperation with WADA was needed in conjunction with "more dissuasive measure with more controls, more targeted testing, and also more cost-effective testing."

She spoke of developing the the Integrity Betting Intelligence System (IBIS) for the Olympic Games and major IF events, strengthening cooperation with Interpol and encouraging states and governments to pass relevant criminal laws.

British IOC member Princess Anne warned of the difficulties of the whereabouts’ system of drug testing, saying it was complicated and hard on athletes to commit where they need to be for controls. She said athletes needed to be better educated about what they were being protected against.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter warned about the "evils" of doping and match-fixing, saying they were "two great scourges because they attack the very root and essence of sport."

Education from sports federations to athletes, footballers or otherwise, was key, he added.

Swedish high jumper Stefan Holm made an explosive contribution to his first IOC Session; he became an IOC member a few months ago.

He said the IOC and WADA should work harder with targeted testing and said the he’d "love to see a lifetime ban from the Olympic Games if you are cheating by doping." In its code change, WADA recently increase the punishment from two to four years.

Turkish IOC member Ugur Erdener tagged doping as "the single greatest threat to sport," saying raising awareness through education was fundamental.

Canadian Beckie Scott suggested international federations should do more targeted testing "with the focus on quality, not just quantity."

Both China’s Yang Yang and Australia’s James Tomkins raised concerns about athlete entourages and said they had a duty to protect and steer their charges in the right direction. They agreed that bigger punishments should be handed down to entourages – coaches, doctors, trainers etc – if athletes were caught doping.

Swiss IOC member Denis Oswald proposed an independent body to allow athletes to blow the whistle on dopers anonymously without fear of retaliation.

Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy backed the idea but said the body should have a wider remit to "include sexual abuse abuse of authority." He said that very often details of such abuse was only found out many years after.

The IOC signed an MOU with Interpol last week ahead of the Sochi Olympics in new efforts to crack down on illegal betting and match manipulation.

In this debate, several contributions from the floor also came on reviewing the Olympic opening ceremony format.

Israel’s Alex Gilady and Princess Anne said the Olympic curtain-raiser was about the athletes and it was important to introduce them on that stage and that they show their commitment to it, albeit not as just an add-on to the entertainment.

Adam Pengilly said the Opening Ceremony was "one of things that makes the Olympic Games very unique from an athlete perspective, it’s so special." Amid repeated concerns voiced by athletes about having to stand for hours at Opening Ceremonies, he said their welfare "should be given proper consideration".

"Standing for hours on end is not good preparation for the biggest event of your life," he said.

Former athletes among the IOC Session delegates strongly supported seeking closer cooperation with Olympic sponsors to create further employment opportunities.

New vice president of the IOC Athletes’ Commission Angela Ruggiero said, "When we get Olympic sponsors involved in athletes, it’s a win-win. When we look into furthering that into IFs and NOCs ... athletes can engage in internship or work experience."

New Dutch IOC member Camiel Eurlings, who is CEO of KLM Airlines, said more could be done to help athletes after their sports career was over. He suggested NOCs could also find sponsors to commit themselves to internships for a few athletes per year.

Bach drew a laugh by responding: "We will all be happy in future if all KLM pilots are athletes."

Written by Mark Bissonin Sochi

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