New WADA president backed in doping fight
LAUSANNE, Jan 24: IOC president Jacques Rogge pledged his full support to the World Anti-Doping Agency after meeting its new leader Thursday.
Former Australian finance minister Fahey, who replaced Dick Pound as WADA president on Jan. 1, said he had a “very productive meeting” with Rogge at IOC headquarters in Lausanne.
“Mr. Fahey can count on the total commitment of the Olympic movement in the fight against doping,” Rogge said.
But several challenges remain, Rogge said, including full implementation of the WADA anti-doping code by sports bodies by January 2009 and adhesion by governments to the UNESCO anti-doping treaty.
About 4,500 doping tests will be carried out during this year's Olympics in Beijing, in line with the IOC's zero-tolerance policy, Rogge said.—AP