CAS finds FIFA out of step with world anti-doping code

BERN, Switzerland, Apr 24 (Reuters) The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has told world soccer's governing body FIFA that its anti-doping regulations do not correspond fully to those of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The court added, however, that FIFA is not legally obliged, under Swiss law, to modify any of its existing rules.

FIFA and WADA both made separate applications for an advisory opinion from the court following years of wrangling over the differences in their respective rules.

FIFA has yet to fully sign up to the WADA code, the main sticking point being its unwillingness to agree that a first offence by a player should automatically attract a two-year ban.

Issuing its non-binding 68-page opinion today, CAS disagreed with FIFA's argument that full adoption of the WADA ruling on first offences would be in violation of Swiss law.

The court also pointed out that while FIFA was not legally obliged to change its regulations, it ran the risk of seeing soccer removed from the Olympic programme if it did not incorporate the WADA code into its statutes.

REUTERS PDS KP2102