cannabisnews.com: IOC Drug Chief Proposes Selective Bans! IOC Drug Chief Proposes Selective Bans! Posted by FoM on January 28, 1999 at 18:29:15 PT Brussels, Belgium The Olympics' drug chief proposed selective bans Thursday to keep doping cheats out of certain -- but not all -- major events. Next week's meeting would likely agree on a list of banned substances, including Marijuana. Prince Alexandre de Merode, chairman of the International Olympic Committee's medical commission, also said the IOC will seek a compromise on its proposal for a two-year minimum ban for major drug abusers. In an attempt to keep athletes from successfully challenging sanctions in court, de Merode said the IOC will seek to impose bans that keep athletes out of some of the biggest competitions while allowing them to stay active in the sport to make a living. ``It will be a financial and moral punishment, and it will be severe, but it will not rob him of his work,'' de Merode said in an interview with The Associated Press. His comments came just days ahead of next week's world conference on doping in sport at Lausanne, Switzerland. Nations from around the globe and sporting federations will seek to dovetail drug policies. The IOC has threatened to expel sports from the Olympics if they do not back a minimum two-year ban on major drug abusers. But after soccer, cycling and tennis objected, de Merode promised he would seek a compromise at next week's meeting, inserting language that will allow penalties to be reduced in exceptional cases. ``At that point FIFA can be satisfied, and tennis and cycling would be able to accept such a text,'' de Merode said. FIFA medical chief Michel D'Hooghe said earlier in the week the soccer federation ``would never bow'' to a two-year rule and would rather risk Olympic expulsion. The plan for selective bans could ease some legal concerns. ``When someone must judge a doping case, he must be able to compare it to current legal practice,'' de Merode said. De Merode said next week's meeting would likely agree on a list of banned substances, including Marijuana. Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by rounderx on June 14, 1999 at 00:52:56 PT drug testing jocks Is this the same IOC that got caught with their pants down in Utah? literally!!!!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: