Commonwealth join forces for sport anti-doping campaign

Commonwealth nations have come together in Athens, just ahead of tonight's Olympics opening ceremony, to back a global anti-doping in sport campaign.

Following the conference, the Commonwealth's London-based Secretariat will now fund technical advisers to operate alongside WADA staff in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific promoting the anti-drugs message.

The UK, one of the few countries with two WADA-recognised doping laboratories, has pledged to help developing nations by passing on technical knowledge and best practice.

Sport Minister Richard Caborn, who chaired the conference, said: "We know that drug abuse is a cancer which has to be rooted out for the good of sport. Countries like the UK have valuable experience which we are only too happy to share with other Commonwealth nations. We are determined that there must be no weak links in the fight against drugs in sport."

Sports ministers from the Commonwealth's 53 member states pledged to ensure their countries would take a full part in the campaign.

One third of Commonwealth countries came to the conference not having yet signed up to the Copenhagen Declaration, which commits nations to implement WADA's tough anti-doping code.

At the meeting four more countries signed the Declaration and Ministers expressed hope that more would do so soon.

Don McKinnon, the Commonwealth's Secretary-General, said: "We know that some countries do not have the resources to play a full part in the fight against drug abuse in sport without external assistance. These new advisers will be able to spread the message and pass on advice to those most in need of assistance.

The action plan will also see developing nations more help in staging international sporting events - either on their own, or jointly with other countries. Those which have won major events, like Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia and the UK will pass on their knowledge of how to successfully bid for championships and then stage them.

The conference also committed Commonwealth countries to promote full participation by women in sport.

(gmcg)