Athens - IOC president Jacques Rogge refuted claims on Friday that the spate of positive doping tests at the Athens Olympics had tarnished the Games.
So far more than 20 athletes have been trown out of the Games for cheating, including two track and field gold medallists - and more are expected before the Olympics closes on Sunday night.
But Rogge insists the more cheats caught the better it is.
"Today the general public know we mean business," said Rogge, who made the fight against doping one of his main aims when he took over the most powerful position in sport three years ago.
"It is more and more difficult to cheat in the Olympics. What counts is we act against this evil drug use," added the 62-year-old surgeon who boasts of "zero tolerence" when it came to drug cheats.
So far there have been 2 300 tests. All told, 3 000 test are expected to be carried out - a record for dope testing at the Olympics.
Rogge also wants to see the international federations tighten up their rules and regulations to prevent the judging rows that have hit the Games.
Equestrian, fencing and gymnastics have all been embroiled in judging disputes and Rogge said that part of the reason was that federation rules needed to be tightened up and modernised.
He said that after the Athens Games the IOC along with the federations would study how judging could be improved.
But despite the controversies Rogge said he was very happy about how the Games had gone to date.
Pre-Games fears that the Greek organisers would not be able to mount a successful Olympics have proved unfounded.
"I am personally very happy," said Rogge, enjoying his first Summer Games as IOC president.
