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| September 09, 2006 | Saturday | Sha'aban 15, 1427 |
IAAF wants govt support in anti-doping battle
STUTTGART, Sept 8: The head of track and field's world governing body wants governments to make better use of their police and judicial powers to combat doping. At the end of a summer marred by doping scandals, International Association of Athletics Federations president Lamine Diack said sporting sanctions were insufficient to contain the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
“We can do nothing without the help of governments,” he said on Friday. “Only governments can make sure someone is stopped at the borders. Only governments can make sure hotel rooms are searched. Only governments can stop cars.”
“That is where everything has to happen. With the governments we can reinforce the fight,” Diack told reporters on the eve of the two-day World Athletics Final in Stuttgart.
Last month, Diack called for the reintroduction of four-year bans for first-time doping offenders instead of two-year suspensions.
World and Olympic 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin tested positive for testosterone or other steroids this spring and faces a possible eight-year ban.
Diack said five-time Olympic medalist Marion Jones was eligible to compete again after a negative ''B'' sample cleared her of allegations she had used endurance-boosting EPO. An initial “A” sample had come up positive.
“If she wants to compete she can. The lab said the 'B' sample was negative,” Diack said, confirming Jones would skip the Stuttgart meet but compete in next week's World Cup in Athens, Greece. —AP
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