Sports Minister Gets Serious About Doping 25/01/2007 00:00

25 January 2007

BRUSSELS – Flemish Sports Minister Bert Anciaux is challenging the world cycling community to join him in a round table discussion on doping. The Minister wants to meet all the parties involved. The meeting is scheduled for the beginning of February, he said Wednesday.

Minister Anciaux became increasingly concerned about the issue after the Flemish television programme Het Laatste Nieuws had accused cyclist team Quick.Step-Innergetic, including manager Patrick Lefevere, of administering doping to their sportsmen, De Standaard writes.

“The damages threatening world cycling may prove to be irreversible", Anciaux said. He promised to take immediate steps to fight doping use, but the rest of cycling community in the world must also take action, he added. 

The Minister believes that 2007 will become a crucial year in terms of struggle against doping in  cycling. “We are working on the new regulations to make the Flemish legislation fully correspond to the WADA code and the UNESCO convention. Our specialists are also working on some other measures to make the sports world responsible for its engagements”, Anciaux said.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news