VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Canada's Border Services Agency has agreed to give the International Olympic Committee the names of athletes entering the country with performance-enhancing drugs during next month's Winter Games.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Canada's Border Services Agency has agreed to give the International Olympic Committee the names of athletes entering the country with performance-enhancing drugs during next month's Winter Games.
But the agreement appears to fall short of the IOC's hope that Canada would stop the drugs from getting into the country.
The IOC had been talking to Ottawa for two years hoping for help to enforce the Olympic body's anti-doping policies. But most performance-enhancing substances aren't illegal in Canada and the country's privacy laws restrict what authorities can tell Olympic officials.
Under the agreement, which runs from January 25 to March 25, the information will be shared only if the athletes or their support people have signed a waiver administered by the IOC.
IOC spokesperson Emmanuelle Moreau said the waiver was mandatory for participating in the Games.
"The IOC has a zero-tolerance policy against doping and as for previous Olympic Games, will be working closely with the local authorities to ensure that the appropriate measures are taken to catch any potential cheater during the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver," Moreau said.
Hannah Mahoney, spokesperson for Canada Border Services Agency, said the agreement covered substances prohibited under both the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the 2009 World Anti-Doping Code.
Dr Arne Ljungqvist of Sweden, chairperson of the IOC's medical commission, said last month that negotiating an agreement was difficult because Canada does not have anti-doping legislation. The IOC will require that from future host countries. - Sapa-AP
Dope deal not ideal for IOC
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Canada's Border Services Agency has agreed to give the International Olympic Committee the names of athletes entering the country with performance-enhancing drugs during next month's Winter Games.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Canada's Border Services Agency has agreed to give the International Olympic Committee the names of athletes entering the country with performance-enhancing drugs during next month's Winter Games.
But the agreement appears to fall short of the IOC's hope that Canada would stop the drugs from getting into the country.
The IOC had been talking to Ottawa for two years hoping for help to enforce the Olympic body's anti-doping policies. But most performance-enhancing substances aren't illegal in Canada and the country's privacy laws restrict what authorities can tell Olympic officials.
Under the agreement, which runs from January 25 to March 25, the information will be shared only if the athletes or their support people have signed a waiver administered by the IOC.
IOC spokesperson Emmanuelle Moreau said the waiver was mandatory for participating in the Games.
"The IOC has a zero-tolerance policy against doping and as for previous Olympic Games, will be working closely with the local authorities to ensure that the appropriate measures are taken to catch any potential cheater during the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver," Moreau said.
Hannah Mahoney, spokesperson for Canada Border Services Agency, said the agreement covered substances prohibited under both the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the 2009 World Anti-Doping Code.
Dr Arne Ljungqvist of Sweden, chairperson of the IOC's medical commission, said last month that negotiating an agreement was difficult because Canada does not have anti-doping legislation. The IOC will require that from future host countries. - Sapa-AP
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