International Olympic
Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has put forward proposals aimed at
reducing the use of performance-enhancing drugs in professional sports, VRT news
reported Wednesday.
In an interview with a Belgian newspaper, Rogge said the world's toughest
sporting competitions, such as the Tour de France, should be made easier.
Other proposals include more spot checks, punishment for offenders'
entourage, and police involvement.
"What has happened with Floyd Landis and Justin Gatlin is disappointing. I
understand that the general public is losing faith. If we don't act, the
credibility of sport will be undermined," Rogge told Het Nieuwsblad paper.
American cyclist Landis, winner of the 2006 Tour de France, and Gatlin, a
world famous sprinter of the United States, were both suspected of drug use.
"I'm not naive, but we need to be honest. Eight hundred million people play
competitive sport worldwide. They're not all angels. The world of sport is a
reflection of society as a whole," said Rogge.
In order to reduce strain of sportsmen and women, competitions should be made
less tough, said Rogge.
"Sometimes our sportsmen and women are put under almost inhumane strain. We
should pay more attention to the health of our athletes. Just look at the number
of injuries in ladies tennis."
He said offenders' entourage should be punished for pushing the athletes to
take drugs.
"We ought to punish more team leaders, coaches, doctors, and physiotherapists
etc, who are involved in pushing athletes to take drugs," said Rogge.
Gatlin is coached by Trevor Graham. Among athletes Graham has coached, eight
have tested positive or received bans for performance enhancing drugs.
Rogge rejected calls for life-time bans to be issued to sportsmen and women
caught using performance-enhancing drugs.
However, he remained radically opposed to a policy of tolerating doping.
"Athletes who stay clean should be protected," he said.
