FP5 can help in the fight against drugs
The final report of the harmonisation of methods and measurements in the fight against doping (HARDOP) has concluded that some of its objectives are covered by the European Union's Fifth Framework programme (FP5). Part of both the competitive and sustainable growth and the quality of life and management of living resources programmes of the FP5, the report looks into the background and history of doping in sport. The proposed harmonisation of regulations against doping has required a considerable amount of debate. In this publication, the results of that debate, which included outcomes from the seminars organised in Brussels, Rome and Toulouse on the subject. Representatives from all parties concerned, including the athletes, coaches, sports doctors and journalists took part in these seminars. The conclusions of the report point to a need for research to address the problem of doping. A research infrastruture is required, measurements and testing could help in the detection of drug use and a drug agency is also required to help to monitor the situation. The report also concluded that the objective of fighting doping fits in with the some of the aims of the Fifth Framework programme.