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September 2004

New substances added to WADA’s banned drugs list

 

LONDON:

A medical product used to treat both male hair loss and prostate problems has been added to the list of banned drugs for athletes.

The World Anti-Doping Agency banned the use of finasteride, for fear it could be used as a masking agent, at their Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday.

WADA said the decision had been taken to add finasteride to the banned list following the results of a research project.

finastaride

The anti-doping czars also ruled that intravenous infusion for non-medical purposes will now be explicitly banned and that from 2005 Beta-2 agonists, often used in the treatment of asthma, will be prohibited in and out of competition. Since 2004, WADA has been tasked with issuing the Prohibited List on an annual basis, a responsibility previously held by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

A substance or method is added to the list if it meets two of three criteria: it is performance enhancing, poses a danger to athletes’ health, and its use is against the spirit of sport. “Refining the list is an important part of WADA’s responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code,” WADA president Richard Pound said in a statement.

Scientific knowledge: “The changes we have made this year reflect our expanding scientific knowledge and our ability to better identify performance enhancing substances and methods.” The new list will be published prior to October 1, 2004, and will be put into effect on January 1, 2005.

The Executive Committee, which met in Montreal, also proposed a 2005 budget of $21,705,000 – an increase of $1.47 million on this year.

The budget is due to be approved by WADA’s Foundation Board at its November meeting. WADA has received 80 percent of its 2004 budget from governments and the IOC. The United States has committed to pay $1.45 million soon after the start of its fiscal year on October 1, bringing total contributions this year to more than 90 percent.

WADA has also collected this year a further $3.9 million from governments and the IOC for funds due in 2002 and 2003, the body said.

“We are very pleased that governments now seem to have their budgetary processes in place for meeting their financial commitments to WADA,” Pound said. “We have collected more money this year from our stakeholders than ever before.

This reflects the commitment of governments and the sports movement to WADA and allows the Agency to carry on the necessary work and scientific research to continue to fight doping.” reuters