South Africa hosts conference to fight doping in sports

Johannesburg, Nov 13 (IANS) The fourth World Conference on Doping was officially opened here Tuesday night with an aim to curb doping in sports.

The meeting, which is bringing together about 900 delegates from countries across the world, will discuss ways to tackle doping. It will also ratify the revised 2015 Doping Code and related International Standards, Xinhua reported.

The code is the document that harmonises anti-doping efforts in sports.

"It is WADA's duty now at the Fourth World Conference on Doping in Sport, to approve the revised version of the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code and offer our community the best possible opportunity to tackle the scourge of doping that exists in sports," John Fahey, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said in his address. 

Some of the codes which will be discussed and endorsed include the revised International Standards for Laboratories, the revised International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions and international Standards for Testing and Investigations.

South African Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula said that his country took the responsibility to bid for the hosting of this conference to, among others, showcase its achievement in the war against doping in sport.

Mbalula said that South Africa has signed anti-doping agreements and is willing to implement WADA programmes.

The conferences, which will end Friday, will also elect the next WADA president and the vice president. 

Attending the conference are sports ministers and representatives from the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, International Federations, and National Olympic Committees.