FIFA JOINS WORLD ANTI-DOPING CODE

International Federation of Football Associations /FIFA/ has joined the WADA World Anti-Doping Code. The document was signed by the FIFA president Josef Blatter and head of the World Anti-Doping Agency Dick Pound. The signing ceremony taken place during the 54th FIFA congress in Paris was attended by Chairman of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge, AzerTAj leant from the UEFA website.

This is a historical day for sports and the battle against doping in sports," Pound told the Congress.

Thus, facing the threat to be dropped from the August's Olympic Games FIFA agreed to the internationally accepted anti-doping code allowing a two-year suspension and examination of each case on an individual basis.

FIFA determined to uphold its principles of anti-doping fight willing to keep the existing practice of the individual consideration of each positive doping-test. FIFA executives were against informing WADA of the football players’ contacts information for random tests.

Besides, the tests should be carried out by national federations rather than WADA, and the agency has not to be privileged to contest FIFA decisions.