Pubdate: Mon, 02 Oct 2006
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2006 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300

ANTI-DOPING AGENCY DEFENDS STANCE ON CANNABIS

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has 
defended the continued inclusion of cannabis on its prohibited list 
of substances following criticism that the ban is placing unnecessary 
strain on sporting federations.

IAAF council member and Spanish athletics federation president Jose 
Maria Odriozola raised concern about the cannabis ban on Sunday 
during a round table discussion on "borderline issues" at an 
international anti-doping symposium organised by the world athletics 
governing body.

According to Odriozola, federations are "wasting considerable time 
and money, dealing with what is essentially a recreational 
non-performance-enhancing drug."

Odriozola's comments were firmly rejected by WADA's director of 
science, Olivier Rabin.

"We have three criteria for including something on our list of 
prohibited substances and methods, at least two of which have to be 
met -- performance enhancement, possible health dangers and a 
contravention of the spirit of sport," Rabin told Reuters.

"We know full well that cannabis can alleviate feelings of fear which 
can help performance in some sports.

"It is also risky for athletes and others around them as it can cause 
a distortion of perception and we also believe it violates the spirit 
of sport even though we understand it is mainly a social drug."

In a high-profile case concerning cannabis, Canadian snowboarder Ross 
Rebagliati was temporarily deprived of his 1998 Olympic giant slalom 
gold medal after traces of marijuana were found in his body.

Rebagliati claimed he had inhaled the drug "passively" but his medal 
was only returned to him after it was pointed out that cannabis was 
not actually banned at the time.

"We think it is now clear to athletes that cannabis is prohibited," Rabin said.

"We can very clearly distinguish between active and passive smoking 
and with our current thresholds we are clearly targeting the active 
users of cannabis and cannabinoids.

"If we detect levels above these thresholds then we are telling 
athletes that will be considered an adverse analytical finding with 
potential sanctions.

"Because cannabis is listed as a specified (banned in competition) 
substance there is still the possibility that an athlete may first 
face a reprimand rather than a sanction."

Cannabis has been included on WADA's list of banned substances and 
methods since the list's creation in 2004.

It remains on the new version of the annually-revised list which was 
approved by WADA's executive committee last month and comes into 
force on January 1.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine