Remarks on drugs appal Allen

The Fine Gael spokesperson on Sport, Bernard Allen, yesterday said that he was appalled at Monday's comments by the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Juan Antonio Samaranch, that some performance enhancing drugs should be legalised.

"If the International Committee adopts this stance as policy at its special drugs in sport conference in January next year, the Irish Government must seriously consider whether it will fund participation by an Irish team in the Sydney Olympics in 2000," he said.

"The Minister should immediately call in the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), Mr Pat Hickey and make it clear to him that drugs have no place in sport and that back pedalling in the International Olympic Committee will not be tolerated. Mr Hickey should undertake to make this point most forcefully to Dr Samaranch on behalf of the Irish Government," added Deputy Allen.

Mr Allen went on to say that the statement by Samaranch was indicative that the IOC can no longer effectively police drugs in sport and is considering the easy way out, one that is likely to put the health and possibly lives of elite sports people at risk.