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Anti-doping chief says FIFA, UEFA stance ignores reality
World anti-doping chief John Fahey has accused FIFA and UEFA of ignoring reality, after they rejected rules that ease out-of-competition drugs testing of individual footballers.
World anti-doping chief John Fahey has accused FIFA and UEFA of ignoring reality, after they rejected rules that ease out-of-competition drugs testing of individual footballers.
"One of the key principles of efficient doping control is the surprise effect and the possibility to test an athlete without advance notice on a 365 day basis," the World D Agency President said in a statement.
"Alleging, as FIFA and UEFA do, that testing should only take place at training grounds and not during holiday periods, ignores the reality of doping in sport.
"Experience has demonstrated that athletes who cheat seize every opportunity to do so and dope when they believe they won't be tested," he added.
Since the beginning of January, the world anti-doping code requires elite athletes to give notice of their location on a chosen one-hour period each day, seven days a week.
"WADA was surprised and concerned to read the statement issued on March 24 by the world and European football governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA, in relation to universally harmonized whereabouts requirements that took effect on January 1, 2009," the anti-doping agency said.
The footballing bodies on Tuesday formally rejected the 'whereabouts' rule, arguing that team sport players should be treated differently.
