Euro-Mediterranean anti-doping forum closes

The Euro-Mediterranean anti-doping forum held in Marrakesh this January 21-22 recommended to countries to include cooperation in fighting doping in their cooperation programs.

The conference, attended by Some 240 experts from 36 European and Mediterranean countries, international anti-doping organizations, European and African committees, and the Arab Anti-doping Agency, asked Spain, currently chairing the EU, to submit the forum results to the sports ministers informal meeting slated for next May and encourage bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the struggle against doping in the Euro-Mediterranean space.

Participants also recommended to the European Commission to encourage the membership of Euro-Mediterranean countries in the Council's anti-doping convention. An appeal was launched to the World anti-doping agency to supply information and documents to experts and Olympic committees of the Euro-Mediterranean countries and secure a balanced geographic representation of these countries.

In parallel, six Euro-Mediterranean sports ministers probed means of improving the implementation of last September's "Tunis Declaration" adopted by Mediterranean youth and sports during the Mediterranean games.

The seminar will hold its upcoming session in 2003 in Greece.