The IOC wants to give more power to the World Anti-Doping Agency "in the fight against drug-cheating by athletes," according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. The IOC said that it was agreed at a meeting of world sports leaders that "WADA should oversee the testing of athletes while sanctions would be decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport." Testing is currently conducted by "either national anti-doping agencies or international sports federations, who also decide sanctions." WADA's role is "mainly a regulatory one which includes compiling the list of banned substances." The so-called Olympics Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, also proposed that WADA "should have more control over national anti-doping agencies, and should supervise national anti-doping programs." WADA President Craig Reedie said, "WADA welcomes all constructive proposals aimed at reinforcing clean sport." The IOC proposals "are likely to be approved at WADA's next meeting in November" (REUTERS, 10/8). The PA reported IOC President Thomas Bach promised a "substantial" increase in funding for WADA but only if it agrees to a list of reforms decided at an Olympic Summit. The "most significant" proposed reform is that WADA sets up an independent drug-testing unit "within its framework" that would work across borders and sports. The key issue of funding was left until the penultimate paragraph of the Olympic Summit’s "declaration," saying only that "the Olympic movement is ready to contribute to an increased financing along with the governments" but that depends on "the implementation of the reforms ... and based on the results provided by WADA." Bach: "If the reforms are implemented 100% this would mean a substantial commitment and a substantial increase in WADA’s tasks and responsibilities, and that would mean a substantial increase in its budget" (PA, 10/8). The BBC reported Bach has previously said that the move "would increase transparency and consistency to combat cheating." In the wake of the Fancy Bears hack -- which revealed details of athletes' therapeutic use exemptions for banned substances -- WADA has also been asked to "significantly improve its information security standards" (BBC, 10/8). In N.Y., Rebecca Ruiz wrote surprising some anti-doping officials who "worried WADA would become a scapegoat," Bach expressed "broad support for the agency." Advocating the independent adjudication of doping offenses, Bach also proposed that the CAS "should assume primary responsibility in imposing penalties for drug violations." That support was a "marked reversal from the messages of recent months," when Bach and several of the participants in Saturday’s meeting had "roundly criticized WADA and its response to revelations of state-sponsored doping in Russia" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/8).
