By Gene Cherry

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Aug 21 (Reuters) World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chairman Dick Pound wants sporting federations to take tougher action against coaches whose athletes fail drugs tests.

''They have got to start targeting the coaches of some athletes who are turning up with positive tests and do something,'' Pound told Reuters by telephone from his Montreal home yesterday.

He praised the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) for banning sprint coach Trevor Graham from its facilities because a number of his athletes have been sanctioned for doping offences.

But Pound said USA Track&Field (USATF) and other federations must do more.

''USA Track&Field has just got to get its head out of the sand and really publicly acknowledge there is a big problem they have not dealt with in the past,'' Pound said.

''(CEO Craig) Masback and his board should say, 'Hey, whatever we stand for, this is not what we stand for. Let's get in there and really make an effort'.'' Two of USATF's biggest names, Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin and Sydney Olympic five-time medallist Marion Jones, have recently tested positive.

ZERO TOLERANCE USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer said the federation had addressed many of Pound's concerns with its ''Zero Tolerance'' program in 2003, and was looking at additional measures.

Life bans for first steroid positives and fines up to 100,000 dollar for athletes and coaches were initially sought under Zero Tolerance but were determined not to be possible under the U.S.

Amateur Sports Act.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is the U.S. organisation that can levy doping suspensions against athletes and coaches, Geer said.

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