The International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday banned "social" drugs such as marijuana, crack, heroin and ecstasy from the Sydney Olympics.

IOC director general Francois Carrard said that the executive board had decided to put a provision in the Olympic charter outlining the fight against drugs.

The technicalities such as how and when testing will be carried out have yet to be finalised, he said.

None of the drugs is officially on the list of banned performance-enhancing substances the IOC distributes to international sports federations.

This confusion allowed Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati to hang onto his gold medal at the Nagano Winter Games in February after he had tested positive for marijuana.

"We were taught a lesson by what happened in Nagano," Carrard said.

The IOC president, Juan Antonio Samaranch, set up a working party after Nagano to find a way to stop recreational drugs.

The IOC vice-president, Richard Pound, said it was important that the Olympic movement take a stand against drugs. "Olympic athletes ought to meet higher standards," he said. "They have to set an example."

The IOC are meeting in Sydney to inspect preparations for the 2000 Games as well as tighten up rules.

Samaranch has urged feuding Australian politicians to work together for a successful 2000 Games.

"Let the problems, if there are some problems, be for after the Games," he said in a veiled call for state and national politicians to patch up differences threatening to overshadow the IOC meetings.

The Australian prime minister, John Howard, has refused to deal with New South Wales (NSW) Olympics Minister Michael Knight, also president of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG), accusing him of politicising the event.

The Australian government has also threatened to withhold some 70 million Australian dollars in funding unless the prime minister of the day can open the Games.

Another dispute is mounting in Australia over whether the Union Jack should be taken off the national flag on the uniforms of Australian athletes.

NSW Premier Bob Carr said Samaranch had indicated to him the IOC fully approved of Knight's dual role.

Carr said after meeting the IOC president that the message he received was that Sydney was on the right track in preparing for the Games and the IOC was totally committed to Knight.

Despite Samaranch vowing not to discuss politics, Carr said it would be brought up when the IOC chief meets Howard and Sports Minister, Andrew Thomson, later this week.