International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge is confident of finding an ``intelligent solution'' with the Italian Government on how to punish doping at the Torino Olympics.

Italian law includes criminal sanctions for doping violations, while the IOC only calls for disqualification for any doping offence, with no legal penalties.

With less than two months left until the Winter Games start, Mr Rogge met Italian government supervisor Mario Pescante in private at the general assembly of the European Olympic Committees in Dublin, Ireland, yesterday.

``I can tell you that we will find a solution for the doping issue in the full respect of the Italian law by finding what I call intelligent solutions,'' Mr Rogge told members.

``We remain with our zero tolerance policy, so that the fight against doping remains the very first priority of the IOC.''

The Torino Games run from February 10-26.

Mr Pescante wants the law suspended during the Torino Games, but many Italian legislators are opposed.

IOC