World anti-doping Pres. says doping is major threat

by Mutlu Demirtastan and Doga Kirmizioglu

ANTALYA, Turkey

Doping is one of the major threats to sports, risks athletes lives and health and heralds a negative spirit in sports, according to Sir Craig Reddie, World Anti Doping Agency's President at the 12th SportAccord Convention on Monday.

Reedie spoke to Anadolu Agency's correspondents on doping usage and the strategies to prevent it on the second day of the world's biggest sports congress, the SportAccord convention at Susesi Luxury Resort in Antalya, Turkey.

He said that the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has joined forces with the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) in the implementation of new precautions to prevent doping in sport and in the protection of rights of innocent athletes.

"We should increase education and awareness. I do not believe that criminal sanctions on athletes make sense." He stressed that they want to co-operate with governments so that the fight against doping will continue to gain support and get stronger.

"Athletes asked us to increase the sanctions on doping - they want longer sanctions," Reedie stated.

However, WADA's President explained that its budget needs to increase to develop new methods for research and development against doping.  "WADA's budget decreased to US$29 million," he said indicating that this is insufficient compared to the much higher budgets of big Turkish football clubs such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahce or Besiktas.

He also said that he accepted that the number of anti-doping labs are not sufficient in Africa, and because of insufficient funds along with inadequate support from African governments, they are having trouble in taking further steps in the African continent.

The Scottish sportsman lastly said that WADA would like to give Turkey's accreditation in anti-doping to the country again after the Turkish Doping Control Center (TDCC) in Ankara failed to meet WADA's quality standards resulting in the suspension of its accreditation on May 30, 2011.

englishnews@aa.com.tr