Interpol to help check drugs in sport

Dakar -- Interpol, the world's largest police organisation, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have committed to work together to identify areas for collaboration in combating the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport.

In a meeting in Lyon, France, Interpol secretary-general Ronald Noble and WADA director-general David Howman stressed the need for stronger and more unified action in tackling the problem of doping in competitive sport.

The two agreed to a global congress on combating doping in sport, which would bring together experts from the policing and sporting worlds to develop best practice and inter-agency cooperation at all levels.

"Doping in sport is not only a crime in the conventional sense of the word, but it is also morally dishonest and harmful at so many levels," said Noble.

"From the trainer who convinces a young, impressionable athlete that taking drugs is the only way to win, to record breaking performances which are now questioned by the general public."

He continued: "The deception associated with doping is now spread so far and so wide that there are some sports where every single individual who breaks a record falls under suspicion."

Interpol and WADA are to draw up a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide a clear framework for cooperation in tackling doping.

"Many athletes are not aware of the consequences of taking performance enhancing drugs, both legally and physically," said Howman.

"While much has been done during recent years to raise awareness in the sporting world of the damage doping can do, with support from the law enforcement community in identifying and prosecuting the suppliers, I am sure that far more progress can be made," the WADA official pointed out.

In 2004, Interpol hosted the first International Working Group on doping agents, attended by delegates from 16 countries in addition to WADA, the International Olympic Committee and the Council of Europe.

The group recognised as essential the need for stronger legislation to deter criminals from what is viewed as a high-profit low-risk crime.