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Sweden
first state to ratify agreement against doping in sport
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[DEC. 14, 2005]
PARIS -- On Nov. 25 Sweden became the first
country to ratify the International Convention Against Doping in
Sport. This agreement, adopted unanimously by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization's General Conference in
October, is the only legally binding universal instrument aimed at
eradicating doping in sport. UNESCO Director-General Koichiro
Matsuura welcomed Sweden's rapid response to the new agreement,
which will come into force one month after 30 countries have
ratified it. Matsuura called on other states to follow suit.
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The agreement provides governments with a legal framework to
harmonize international efforts in the fight against a scourge that
flouts the ethical and social values of sport and threatens the
health of athletes. However, the new instrument goes beyond testing
and sanctions. It calls upon states that are party to the agreement
to "undertake, within their means, to support, devise or implement
education and training programs on anti-doping" in order to raise
public awareness of the negative effects of doping on health and on
the ethical values of sport, as well as provide information on the
rights and responsibilities of athletes and on testing procedures.
Signatories will also promote "active participation by athletes and
athlete support personnel in all facets of anti-doping." For the
complete news release from UNESCO,
click here.]
[Provided by the Good
News Agency]
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