And some athletes do support Pound.
Net to be widened in war against drug cheats
1 hour, 16 minutes ago
ATHENS (AFP) - The relentless war against drug cheats is to be widened to
include coaches and doctors revealed [censored] Pound, president of World
Anti-Doping Agency.
Pound, in an exclusive interview with AFP, said it was the natural step
forward as the screw continued to be turned to rid sport of the scourge of
doping.
"There are very few accidental cases of doping. Most of them are organised
programmes, designed by, implemented by, encouraged by, and condoned by
coaches and sports officials," said Pound.
And a new extension is to be made to the WADA doping control form that every
athlete must sign.
Within the next few months athletes will also have to list the name of their
coach and doctor.
"I think it's a great idea and the suggestion to do it came from the
athletes commission," explained Pound.
The Canadian lawyer also remains convinced that a network of informers can
be built up to reveal who the cheats are.
The idea was first put forward earlier this year and firmly supported by IOC
(news - web sites) president Jacques Rogge.
Critics have suggested that it was an idea that would never get off the
ground but Pound rejects such claims.
"I think there are a lot of people out there who are really fed up," he
said.
Pound cited the strong anti-doping stance taken by Australian swim star Ian
Thorpe (news - web sites).
"I presented the medals a couple of days ago at the 100 free and as I gave
Thorpe his gold I said 'by the way - you are right about the doping' and he
replied 'so are you'," said Pound, himself a former Olympic swimmer.
Rogge had suggested before the Games began a week ago, that record levels of
positive cases could be revealed here as new more sophisticated drug tests
were put in place but the expected flood have so far yet to materialise.
Pound believes that part of the reason is due to the message that the war on
drugs is not a 'phoney war' but a determined long haul struggle to clean up
sport.
"I really do think that if we have done anything it's to raise the level of
awareness," he said.
Another reason for the so far relatively low number of doping cases is the
vast number of pre-Games tests.
"I think a lot of work was done for us at home. I think more than ever
before, either for the right reason or the wrong reason, countries are
thinking 'we don't want to sent athletes to the Games that test positive' -
either because they might be embarrassed or because they actually should not
be sending cheats," he said.
Pound admits that in the past the IOC turned a blind eye to the state doping
of Eastern Bloc countries but he insists that those days are over.
"It was the Cold War period. There was state designed and administered
doping systems on the one hand and on the other, officials in the west
turned a blind eye if their athletes tried to keep up.
"You did not want to upset the Soviets and the Soviet bloc because they
would pick up all their marbles and leave," he said.
Pound insists that today the message is clear.
"You're cheating. You are a cheat - get out of our Games. We don't want you
here. That is what we are saying now," said Pound.
But Pound knows there is still much to be done and he is turning his sights
towards the international federations who he claims have got to get more
involved.
"These federations all beat their chests like gorillas but in fact they are
six or seven people in an office in Switzerland and they have no idea what
is going on in the gymnasiums around the world.
"They too have to get wise and do more," he stressed.
Pound is determined to make sure everyone gets the message and his blunt
speaking leaves few people in any doubt that there will be no let up.