Commission ready to join new doping forum

Date: 29/07/1999

By Peter Chapman

EUROPEAN Commission officials say they are close to a deal which would seal the EU's involvement in a new watchdog to police doping in sport.

The institution is on the verge of signing up to the plan drafted by the Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee (IOC) for a body to oversee lists of banned substances, administer tests outside competitions and manage research into doping.

News of the imminent breakthrough follows last week's pledge by incoming Commission President Romano Prodi to boost Union efforts to clean up the tarnished image of sport, as part of his drive to "make the EU more relevant for the European public".

It follows IOC promises to address Commission concerns over the body's independence and its insis-tence that it should not have 'legislative competence'.

"We have reached a clear agreement on most aspects of the body and we are very close to agreeing the principles of a mission statement," said a senior Commission official this week.

The official added that EU governments would then have to agree to give the Commission a mandate to play a role in the new watchdog.

Champions of the move fear this could be difficult, as it could eventually lead to demands for member states to adapt their national rules on doping.

But officials hope that Prodi will persuade governments to let the Commission play a strong role. "That could be a good test of the political will on this issue," said one.