Brussels, 18/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The anti-doping fight in the world of sport is crucial because of the mushrooming of illegal research and manufacture of ever more difficult to detect artificial substances and drugs to artificially boost performance. The EU member states, the sports world and international bodies should work together to define common strategies to stamp out doping, which introduces unfair competition and severely endangers athletes' health. These strategies should not, however, affect the right to privacy and protection of the personal and health information of sports' people. These questions were on the agenda of the EU Sports Council of Thursday 18 November, where ministers published a conclusions document on the role of the European Union in tackling doping at international level. The Lisbon Treaty includes measure on sport, giving the EU powers for the first time in the sports arena and sketching out a cooperation set-up. The EU dimension of sport should be developed with respect for fair play and cooperation among sports bodies in order to protect the physical and moral integrity of sportsmen and women, particularly children and women, explains the Council in the conclusions document. It adds that member states and the EU should coordinate their positions ahead of meetings of the World Anti-Doping Agency and respect existing EU rules on the free circulation of sports people and protection of privacy. The Council says that the opinions of the EU and its member states should bear weight in the discussions and decisions of the World Anti-Doping Agency. . (I.L./transl.fl)