World Anti-Doping Agency to target athletes entourage

DOHA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will target the entourage of athletes who encourage them to take banned substances, director general David Howman said today.

''It's not just the athletes that cheat by taking doping substances, we know the coaches, the doctors, the trainers are all part and parcel of those who might tempt or persuade athletes to do the wrong thing,'' he told a news conference at the Asian Games.

''We must ensure that those individuals are sanctioned in the same way as the athletes are.'' Howman said WADA had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Interpol and was hoping cooperation with government enforcement agencies would help catch some of the entourage offenders.

They will also be looking to the organisers of large events, such as the Olympics and Asian Games, to take action against those caught with prohibited substances.

''If a member of an athlete's entourage group was found carrying banned substances or attempting to supply, or attempting to administer, then we would expect the major games organisers to take steps to ensure that person was sanctioned appropriately,'' he said.

Howman said WADA had made significant progress over the last two years, particularly the CAS upholding a two-year ban on American cyclist Tyler Hamilton in February.

''I think some of the battles in the big war against doping have been significantly won,'' he said.

''I think we have shown in the way tests have been upheld as proper scientific tests by the Court of Arbitration for Sport is significant.

''The case that was determined this year concerning Tyler Hamilton was a major advance.'' There was still plenty of work to do and the increased liaison with government agencies was the key to further progress, he said.

''It's not over,'' he added.''We are working on a programme that will engage governments in investigation work.

''Sport cannot do everything, we are reliant on our partnership with government to use enforcement and detection agencies to find the cheats, to find those who are distributing.'' Reuters PDS RN2035