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Nations Urged to Ratify Anti-Doping Policies

By Prensa Latina

Bern : The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, John Fahey, called on governments Wednesday to become effectively involved in the struggle against doping by ratifying the UNESCO Convention on Doping in Sports.

“We need universal ratification that will give the anti-doping movement power, influence and the tools to cope with some of the major issues that are outside the realms of the sports movement, he said..

John Fahey spoke to the media in Lausanne, Switzerland, during his first press conference since his election as WADA chief last November.

The UNESCO Convention on Doping in Sports came into force in February, 2007.

Some governments have elaborated a framework to effectively fight doping, but the sad reality is that many others have not done so, Fahey complained.

Ratifying the Convention ensures the World Anti-Doping Code becomes national law and commits a member nation to prevent cross-border trafficking of sporting drugs, support a national drug-testing programme and withhold funding from athletes caught cheating.

Only 77 nations have ratified the convention since it came into force last year.