[Fight against doping--national and international developments after Tour de France 1998]

After the scandal at the Tour de France 1998, the fight against doping was intensified on national as well as international levels. In particular, the foundation of the new World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been a landmark: for the first time in the history of the fight against doping, there exists now an international structure that includes partners from the Olympic movement as well as from the governments. The importance of the WADA has already been demonstrated during the Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney. First, it conducted several thousands of un-announced doping tests internationally and second, members of the WADA acted as independent observers to judge the carrying out of doping controls during the games. In Switzerland, important new measures were taken in the past years: The introduction of an independent attorney for the judgment of sanctions or the employment of four professional doping control officers had a clear effect on the quality of doping controls. In addition, research--e.g. a survey on the perception of doping among the population or the development of new technologies for doping analysis--was intensified. In the fields of information and prevention, the existing printed material was extended with a website on doping (www.dopinginfo.ch). Furthermore, international cooperation to develop new didactical material for schools is intended. On the legal level, Switzerland will introduce a new law in mid 2001. It will enable the government to fight against the entourage of athletes when it provides doping substances to athletes. The sanctioning of athletes using doping will still be in the jurisdiction of the sports federations.