WADA challenge: Do you want cheats or not?

02/08/2009

LONDON — The World-Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has defended its new, random dope testing system which forces athletes to be more precise about their whereabouts, asking: “Do you want cheats or not?”

While elite athletes in many sports have complained about the need to tell testers where they are seven days a week for a whole hour every day, WADA are adamant that the inconvenience of a few can help the fight against cheating.

“We haven’t heard a suggestion of anything better,” WADA director general David Howman told BBC Sport.

“I think that’s a little bit over-emotional and I would hope people would address the situation in a sensible and calm fashion.

“This consultation took 18 months to two years before it was settled, so people had plenty of time to think of a better idea but we didn’t hear one.

“People who want cheating fall into one category and people who don’t are in another, and that’s the larger group.

“So you then say here is a process you have to go through, some will say ‘that’s a bit tough’. But then you are back to that basic question — do you want cheats or not?”

For a three-month period, athletes must basically inform their national doping authorities of the address they will be staying for a single hour every day. Previously, it had been for five days a week and not for an entire hour. AFP

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