The General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) has announced the upcoming launch of a number of anti-doping services to support International Federations (IFs), with the full support and collaboration of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and WADA.

The development was confirmed in a GAISF general assembly held last month in Denver, USA.

The GAISF will provide centralised anti-doping advice, support and services to IFs that need them, with the objective of ensuring that they implement and enforce anti-doping rules and programmes in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code.

The GAISF programme will operate from Lausanne, Switzerland and IOC and WADA will contribute towards the costs of its campaign and operations.

GAISF will hire an anti-doping manager, who should be operational and provide expert advice and services in the coming months.

"The IOC is happy to support this cooperative effort to help International Sports Federations fight doping,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge (Pic).

"We have to work together to rid sport of cheaters. The IOC is more than ever committed to that effort, and welcomes this new initiative.”

"Through unity and synergies, we believe that the world of sport will be stronger when tackling global challenges together,” added GAISF President Hein Verbruggen.

"Anti-doping is a major issue for IFs today, and organising together the fight against doping will enable us to reduce costs and the administrative burden on IFs.

"As the monitor of the global fight against doping in sport and the guardian of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA is very pleased to contribute to the establishment of this anti-doping support for IFs,” said WADA Director General David Howman.

Ends