Brussels, 10/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - Emine Bozkurt (PES, NL) has expressed concern about the impact that revision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code has on the working conditions of athletes and inspectors. In parliamentary questions addressed to the European Commission and to the sports ministers of member states, Ms Bozkurt denounces anti-doping tests that can be carried out at any time of the day or night, to the detriment of the private lives of athletes, and forcing inspectors to be constantly available. “The revised WADA Code which is set to enter into force on the first of January seems to disregard the rights of individual athletes and is likely to be against European law”, Ms Bozkurt says, adding that she is in favour of a “fair and proportionate” anti-doping code. EU Athletes, an association that defends the interests of some 25,000 sportsmen and women, shares the concerns expressed by the MEP, and denounces the lack of safeguards to protect personal data, such as medical records, of athletes when provided to countries or authorities outside the European Union. (I.L./transl.jl)