IOC Will Hold Conference On Role Of World Anti-Doping Agency 'Amid Increasing Tensions'

The IOC will hold a conference on the role of the World Anti-Doping Agency "amid increasing tensions over how to deal with performance-enhancing drugs," according to the AP. IOC Dir General Christophe De Kepper said that the meeting would be held in Lausanne, Switzerland in late April or early May with int'l sports federations, national Olympic committees and athletes. The decision was made by the IOC exec board this week in Lausanne, "but was not publicly announced." The board acted after a formal request was made to IOC President Jacques Rogge by the head of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) Francesco Ricci Bitti. The organization represents the 26 sports in the Games. The move comes amid strained relations between the IOC and WADA, an organization which it created in '99 to "lead the global anti-doping fight." The IOC and Olympic movement provide half of WADA's annual budget (AP, 2/17).