Anti-doping passport will take time: Blatter

October 29, 2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday that the introduction of a biological passport to stamp out doping in football would take time.

Speaking after a meeting between world football’s governing body and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Blatter said that discussions had been “positive”.

“The meeting has developed in a positive sense, we are working together fighting againt doping and trying to put together all our assets,” said Blatter.

“Fighting doping is a prerogative and something very special for FIFA and we will go on on that. There is (doping) but not so much (in football).”

A biological passport is designed to keep permanent record of an athlete’s blood and urine parameters to detect any suspicious changes, instead of relying on random tests alone.

FIFA and WADA have not always seen eye to eye on anti-doping measures.

Blatter refused to force footballers to be available 365 days a year for out-of-competition testing, a measure introduced this year for all elite athletes affiliated to WADA.

FIFA’s chief medical officier Jiri Dvorak insisted that the introduction of a biological passport was only at the project stage at the moment.

“It’s a work in progress, it’s something which is a long term project,” Dvorak said.

“33,000 procedures are done every year around the world, the incidence of positive cases is 0.3 percent on social drugs like marihuana and cocaine, and the incidence of anabolic steroids is 0.03percent, it’s very low but still we have to do the controls.”

ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP)

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WADA ´to test FIFA´s anti-doping approach´

April 9, 2009

ZURICH (AFP) – World football’s governing body FIFA claimed on Wednesday that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has agreed to test FIFA’s approach to out-of-competition drugs testing until 2010.

The announcement followed a meeting between FIFA and WADA officials on Monday and a rift between the two bodies over new provisions introduced this year to locate elite athletes for drugs testing.

FIFA has rejected the ‘whereabouts rule’ that allows random testing by anti-doping specialists 365 days a year, arguing that footballers should only be tested when they are with their teams and not during their time off.

“The current FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations have been understood by WADA and will now be tested in practice, prior to reassessment for 2010,” FIFA said in a statement.

“For all sports federations, this year is a period of evolution in the fight against doping, and it will be the practical implementation which is important now that new rules are in place,” the statement added.

WADA could not be contacted immediately for its reaction to the meeting in Zurich between senior FIFA medical officials and WADA Director General David Howman.

World anti-doping chief John Fahey last month accused FIFA and European football governing body UEFA of ignoring reality after they formally rejected the rules on out-of-competition drugs testing of individual footballers.

The 2009 world anti doping code already includes special provisions for team sports, by allowing them to submit the location of their players collectively.

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WADA chief says FIFA/UEFA stance ignores reality

March 26, 2009

GENEVA (AFP) – World anti-doping chief John Fahey on Wednesday accused FIFA and UEFA of ignoring reality, after they rejected rules that ease out-of-competition drugs testing of individual footballers.

"One of the key principles of efficient doping control is the surprise effect and the possibility to test an athlete without advance notice on a 365 day basis," the World Anti Doping Agency President said in a statement.

"Alleging, as FIFA and UEFA do, that testing should only take place at training grounds and not during holiday periods, ignores the reality of doping in sport.

"Experience has demonstrated that athletes who cheat seize every opportunity to do so and dope when they believe they won?t be tested," he added.

Since the beginning of January, the world anti-doping code requires elite athletes to give notice of their location on a chosen one-hour period each day, seven days a week.

"WADA was surprised and concerned to read the statement issued on March 24 by the world and European football governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA, in relation to universally harmonized whereabouts requirements that took effect on January 1, 2009," the anti-doping agency said.

The footballing bodies on Tuesday formally rejected the ‘whereabouts’ rule, arguing that team sport players should be treated differently.

UEFA chief Michel Platini and FIFA President Sepp Blatter had already signalled their opposition in recent weeks, reopening an old rift over the tougher global drive against doping in sports.

Blatter had been at loggerheads with WADA for years, mainly over the penalties for drug taking, and FIFA only came on board unified rules in May 2007 – the last Olympic-affiliated sports federation to do so.

This time, FIFA and UEFA stressed "the fundamental differences between an individual athlete, who trains on his own… and a team-sport athlete, who is present at the stadium six days out of seven, and thus easy to locate."

They said the individual ‘whereabouts’ rule should be replaced by "collective location rules, within the scope of the team."

But the anti-doping agency retorted on Wednesday that the code endorsed by its executive committee last May – including by representatives of team sports – had already accommodated football’s demands.

It also allows teams to submit the location of their players collectively.

Anti-doping experts argue that some substances – especially new ‘designer’ drugs or tailored doping techniques – disappear quickly from the body while keeping their performance-enhancing effects.

"Anti-doping organizations must therefore be able to test athletes at all times in an intelligent fashion," Fahey insisted.

"WADA stakeholders have recognized this reality, and the feedback we have received from the overwhelming majority of other sports, but also from athletes and all those who support doping-free sport, strongly contradicts FIFA?s and UEFA?s stance."

However, Blatter speaking in Copenhagen rejected the idea that it was just football who were in disagreement with WADA over the distinction between team and individual sports.

"I don’t want a fight, I just want them to understand," said Blatter.

"This is not just the line taken by football, but of all the team sports, basketball, handball, volleyball and rugby."

Platini, also in Copenhagen, added: "Footballers can’t be under control 365 days in 365. We ask simply that players be left in peace when they are spending their holidays with their families."

Written by: AFP

Tags: chief john, doping control, doping in sport, doping in sports, elite athletes, FIFA, fifa president sepp blatter, footballers, fundamental differences, governing bodies, holiday periods, john fahey, loggerheads, michel platini, sport athlete, sports federation, team sport, wada, world anti doping agency

FIFA, UEFA stance ignores reality: WADA chief

March 25, 2009