Football and cycling shun conference
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Jacques Rogge, the International Olympic Commission president, has warned that any nation refusing to support the first global anti-doping code will result in their exile from the Games.
However, Rogge's attempt to give weight to the World Anti-Doping Agency conference, which opened here yesterday, was undermined when Sepp Blatter, the president of football's world governing body, Fifa, and the International Cycling Union head, Hein Verbruggen, shunned the summit.
"There should be no place in the Olympic Games for international federations or national Olympic committees who refuse to implement the code," Rogge said. "Likewise, no organisation of the Olympic Games should be awarded to a country whose government has neglected or refused to implement the code."
The WADA expects the doping code to be ratified by sporting bodies before next year's Olympics, while it is willing to give national governments until the 2006 Winter Games to incorporate it into legislation.
Blatter and Verbruggen are opposed to the mandatory two-year ban proposed for all drug cheats, as the idea could amount to putting an end to an athlete's career.
Verbruggen is also unhappy with the exemptions which athletes who play in the major US sports of baseball, American football, basketball and ice hockey will enjoy. Those sports are not subject to their global governing bodies, so are free to apply their own anti-doping rules.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments