Brussels, 20/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - Luxembourg's sports minister Jeannot Krecke represented the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union at a conference of the World Anti-Doping Agency (AMA) in Montreal on 16 May. He outlined the conclusions of the informal conference of European sports ministers in Luxembourg on 28/29 April, where combatting doping was seen as a major concern for the EU and the European Commission (see Europe No. 8940). Krecke urged FIFA to urgently adapt its disciplinary rules in line with the world code, calling for zero tolerance for doping, also for FIFA, since any sports federation that does not abide by the rules jeopardises the necessary global harmonisation through its attitude. Jeannot Krecke announced a meeting with FIFA in Luxembourg on 27 May.
The President of the Council of the EU welcomed progress in applying the International Anti-Doping Convention under the aegis of Unesco, but feared that countries would not have time to ratify it before the Turin Olympic Games. He therefore urged countries to make a strong and irreversible political statement to the sports world, announcing their membership of the Convention. The sports world has already pledged to apply the World Code, said Krecke, stressing that it must now actually do so. Jeannot Krecke mentioned the option of the EU helping the AMA in scientific research to combat doping, welcoming the fact such research was being carried out and cheats did not have the upper hand for once.
In June, Jeannot Krecke and Sports Commissioner Jan Figel will be meeting European sports federations to brief and consult them on changes in the European Union's sports policies, including attitudes to doping.