The President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), John Coates, has warned there will be a global effort to catch drug cheats before the London 2012 Games.

“I will be speaking to Minister Mark Arbib to ensure that the Australian Sports Anti Doping Agency (ASADA) remains focused on weeding out the cheats in the lead up to the London Olympics,” Coates said.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed 5,000 tests will be conducted in conjunction with the London Games.

There will be a significant increase in the number of pre-competition tests.

The IOC is working with government agencies to ensure an essential flow of information in the fight against doping.

A laboratory just outside London will analyse the samples. The tests will be supervised by the WADA (World Anti- Doping Agency) accredited King’s College laboratory.

The blitz will continue long after the Games are over with rigorous re- testing of the samples collected from athletes competing in London.

“The IOC will continue re-testing stored samples after the Games,” Coates said.

”In Australia it is crucial that ASADA remains ready and resourced to retest the samples they are already storing as new forms of analysis and information from customs, and other government agencies increasingly becomes available.”

Currently samples are stored for eight years.

Coates has the support of the WADA Chairman, John Fahey. He has told the 123^rd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa, that his body is already working with the world customs organisation and is collaborating with Interpol.

“There is strong unity amongst the agencies across the world,” Fahey said.

WADA has committed US$50m to research. A total of 122 countries are stakeholders in WADA and committed to the fight against drugs in sport.

“The fight against doping is making progress and if we continue to seek out strategic alliances we can continue the battle”.

WADA has also signed new agreements with the pharmaceutical industry.

Mike Tancred
AOC- Durban