Recently, some IOC-funded research into the detection of new doping substances has led to success in deterring the use of one of the more popular endurance-enhancing drugs. However, a great deal of work remains, and this war cannot be won without assistance. A cultural change is needed, which means that governments, and indeed all of society, have a part to play.

Governments control laws that restrict or allow the sale, traffic, and misuse of these substances and specify the legal penalties for abuse. In 1999, the IOC invited representatives of the world's governments to convene in Lausanne, Switzerland, to study possible plans of action. The result was a call for an international agency made up partly of political authorities and partly of sport governing bodies. Later that year, the IOC launched the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), consisting of equal numbers of government representatives and sports officials, and provided it with US$25 million in start-up funds.

WADA has begun to answer the call, accomplishing a great deal in its first years of existence. It conducted independent observation of the doping control programs in Sydney, Salt Lake City, and other sporting events around the world; it has entered into partnerships with the Olympic sports governing bodies to help them conduct unannounced,out-of-competition athlete testing programs; it has launched an education campaign on the issues involved in doping; and it has funded nearly US$10 million dollars of research into the development of new detection methods. WADA is currently working on a technical but important part of the fight, the standardization of anti-doping procedures and penalties through the development of the World Anti-Doping Code, which should go into effect in 2004. The code will take into account the dangers of the future and recall the protection of athletes' health, one of the fundamental principles of the IOC.

While sport and government are involved, these programs will fall short if society does not become engaged as well. The IOC is proud that Olympic sport is held to such a high standard. That is where we want to be. However, doping is not just a problem among elite Olympic athletes. The IOC is more open than many sporting organizations about acknowledging the problem and fighting against it.

The IOC was founded on the belief that sport is more than just fun and games. It is a vehicle by which we can teach our youth traditional and humanistic values that are important not only to building their inner character but to shaping the communities in which they live. In this ever-modernizing, globalizing world, these basic values are a common bond we must embrace.

For this reason, the IOC will continue to ensure that the Olympic Games bring the world together every two years to celebrate the universal values inherent in athletic achievement. The IOC will also continue to strive to strengthen Olympic values between Games and thereby play its part in fostering a global community.