IOC president Jacques Rogge believes 2004 marked a
breakthrough in the fight to rid sport of drug cheats despite the doping
scandals that blighted the
Athens Olympics.
"It's a positive year, if I dare say, for the fight against doping,"
the International Olympic Committee chief told French sports daily
l'Equipe in an interview published Monday.
Rogge said the increasing influence of the World Anti-Doping Agency
(WADA) and the change of attitude by US anti-doping authorities had been
the main improvements.
"This changing position has led to its first results," Rogge said. "We
also made major scientific breakthroughs. From the detection of (the
blood-boosting drug) EPO...to blood testing in Athens, we've made constant
progress."
The Athens Olympics, Rogge's first summer Games as IOC president, were
rocked by a doping saga
involving Greek sprinters Katerina Thanou and Costas Kenteris who have
been charged over missed drugs tests on the eve of the Games. Both deny
any wrongdoing.
"I considered it as a breakthrough," said Rogge, who added he had also
been pleased in 1988 in Seoul when he was woken up and told about Canadian
sprinter Ben Johnson's positive dope test.
"My first reaction was 'Great!' -- to me it was a victory," he said.
"We are tracking down cheaters wherever they are, regardless of
political implications that we should keep a blind eye on the host
country," he said. "(If) they're suspects, we test them, they're positive,
we ban them."
Rogge also said he welcomed the scandal surrounding the BALCO laboratory in the US that has engulfed a
number of leading American athletes.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-21 15:05
