IOC and FIFA united in the fight against doping

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Football Federation (FIFA) had a constructive meeting today in Lausanne, during which a variety of topics were covered, starting with both organisations' commitment to the fight against doping.

IOC President Jacques Rogge congratulated FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter for the agreement reached last week with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), stipulating that all doping cases should be looked at in the spirit of individual case management. He also praised the organisation's willingness to adopt the World Anti-Doping Code in the near future. "The position of FIFA on this matter is very important, Rogge said. "The agreement with WADA sends a strong signal to the other International Federations and to governments. I praise the efforts deployed by FIFA to move things forward", he added.

At FIFAs request, the IOC President accepted the invitation to attend their centennial celebrations on 20 and 21 May in Paris with the IOC Executive Board members. President Blatter announced that FIFA would take this opportunity to sign the World Anti-Doping Code officially.

The IOC indicated that it would study FIFA's request to include two additional womens teams at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008. The file is to be submitted to the IOC Programme Commission, which is due to make recommendations to the IOC Session in July 2005.

The IOC updated FIFA on preparations for the Olympic Games in Athens, specifically concerning progress made in the construction of the venues for the football tournament. The two organisations also discussed their joint position with respect to the European Union and their efforts to support the reconstruction of sport in Iraq.

By IOC