IOC will root out cheats

2007-12-21 22:11

Lausanne - International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge on Friday called for tougher action in 2008 against doping and illegal betting in sports.

Rogge also said the focus on political and social issues in China would increase in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics but the games would act as a "powerful catalyst".

He said the many high-profile doping cases in 2007 might lead people to believe that the sports world was losing the battle against drug cheats.

"I disagree," he said in a year-end message posted on the IOC's web site.

"The fact that so many instances of fair play were revealed, and that more athletes admitted responsibility, tells us that we are on the right track."

Betting a threat

The IOC last week officially stripped Marion Jones of her five medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics following her admission in court in October that she had been doping.

Rogge also cited illegal betting as a threat to the credibility of sports.

"It must be fought in the same aggressive way in which we are fighting doping," he said.

"In 2008, zero tolerance for illegal betting and doping offenses has to reach an even higher level. Fighting against these threats will help create a more level playing field for sport."

Rogge's statement came with eight months to go until the Beijing Olympics, which have attracted complaints about Chinese policy from human rights organisations, media advocacy bodies and other groups.

"The IOC hopes that Beijing 2008 realises its potential as a spectacular Olympic Games."

- AP