Lausanne Declaration on Doping in Sport

ISSN: 1543-9518

The World Conference on Doping
in Sport, with the participation of representatives of governments,
of inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, of
the International Olympic Committee, the International Sports
Federations (IFs), the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and
of the athletes, declares:

Education, prevention and
athletes' rights
The Olympic oath shall be extended to coaches and other officials,
and shall include the respect of integrity, ethics and fair play
in sport. Educational and preventive campaigns will be intensified,
focusing principally on youth, and athletes and their entourage.
Complete transparency shall be assured in all activities to fight
doping, except for preserving the confidentiality necessary to
protect the fundamental rights of athletes. Partnership with
the media shall be sought in anti-doping campaigns.
Olympic Movement Anti-Doping
Code
The Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code is accepted as the basis
for the fight against doping, which is defined as the use of
an artifice, whether substance or method, potentially dangerous
to the athletes' health and/or capable of enhancing their performances,
or the presence in the athlete's body of substance, or the ascertainment
from the use of a method on the list annexed to the Olympic Movement
Anti-Doping Code.
The Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code applies to all athletes,
coaches, instructors, officials, and to all medical and paramedical
staff working with athletes or treating athletes participating
in or training for sport competitions organized within the framework
of the Olympic Movement.
Sanctions
The sanctions which apply to doping violations will be imposed
in the framework of controls both during and out of competition.
In accordance with the wishes of the athletes, the NOCs and a
large majority of the Ifs, the minimum required sanction for
major doping substances or prohibited methods shall be a suspension
of the athlete from all competition for a period of two years,
for a first offense. However, based on specific, exceptional
circumstances to be evaluated in the first instance by the competent
IF bodies, there may be a provision for a possible modification
of the two-year sanctions. Additional sanctions or measures may
be applied. More severe sanctions shall apply to coaches and
officials guilty of violations of the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping
Code.
International Anti-Doping
Agency
An independent International Anti-Doping Agency shall be established
so as to be fully operational for the Games of the XXVII Olympiad
in Sidney in 2000. This institution will have as its mandate,
notably, to coordinate the various programs necessary to realize
the objectives that shall be defined jointly by all the parties
concerned. Among these programs, consideration should be given
in particular to expanding out-of-competition testing, coordinating
research, promoting preventive and educational actions and harmonizing
scientific and technical standard and procedures for analyses
and equipment. A working group representing the Olympic Movement,
including athletes, as well as the governments and inter-governmental
organizations concerned, will meet, on the initiative of the
IOC, within three months, to define the structure, mission and
financing of the Agency. The Olympic Movement commits to allocate
a capital of US $25 million to the Agency.
Responsibilities of the
IOC, the IFs, the NOCs and the CAS
The IOC, the IFs, and the NOCs will maintain their respective
competence and responsibility to apply doping rules in accordance
with the International Anti-Doping Agency. Consequently, decisions
handed down in the first instance will be under the exclusive
responsibility of the IFs, the NOCs or, during the Olympic Games,
the IOC. With regard to last instance appeals, the IOC, the IFs
and the NOCs recognize the authority of the Court of Arbitration
for Sport (CAS), after their own procedures have been exhausted.
In order to protect athletes and their rights in the area of
disciplinary procedure, the general principles of law, such as
the right to a hearing, the right to legal assistance, and the
right to present evidence and call witnesses, will be confirmed
and incorporated into all applicable procedures.
Collaboration between the
Olympic Movement and public authorities
The collaboration in the fight against doping between sports
organizations and public authorities shall be reinforced according
to the responsibilities of each party. Together, they will also
take action in the areas of education, scientific research, social
and health measures to protect athletes, and coordination of
legislation relative to doping.