Football to sign drugs code

Last Modified: 29 Feb 2008
Source: ITN

Football will be brought into line with other sports by signing up to the World Anti-Doping Code.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter had objected to the amended code that came into force last year because all drugs offences had to be punished with a minimum ban of two years and players have to inform officials of their whereabouts so they can be tested at random.

Blatter met John Fahey, the newly-elected president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), and they agreed to compromise.

Blatter said: "There is more flexibility in this code, what is called individual case management.

"There are ongoing discussions on the 'whereabouts' between Wada and Fifa and the international team sports' federations.

"There is not yet a definite solution found but I promise before Fifa's Congress in May we will sign the new Wada code."

Fahey said the remaining issue about 'whereabouts' information was not a big problem.

He said: "There was a feeling among team sports, and Fifa was very vocal on this, that there were issues such as whereabouts that required further consultation and discussion but there is very little problem, it's about an outcome.

"We hope to achieve this outcome through discussions later today and tomorrow."

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