Athletics DRUGS IN SPORT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 18

Athletics DRUGS IN SPORT

Inquiry Wanted

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) PARIS, Jan. 27. The first European conference on the use of drugs in sport today recommended setting up within a month an international commission to make fuller inquiries. The conference also advised a ban on drugs in competitions “if their use involved permanent harm to sportsmen and gaive them unfair advantages,” British United Press said. The conference, held at Uriage-les-Bains, France, was attended by 200 doctors, sportsmen and officials. It said the “ideal sportsman” should build himself up by training and diet—not with stimulants, vitamin pills and other medicines. One group of delegates said the question of stimulants should be left to the athletes themselves while another group favoured a permanent drug commission.

A third group, Which most support, advocated “much mare study” before recommendations were made.

A French delegate described the taking of drugs as “the cancer of sport”—a disease worse in France than in other European countries.

A Dutch official said cyclists appeared to be the only Dutch sportsmen who took drugs. A biologist commented: “How would you describe a glass of beer or spirits taken before an event? Obviously a stimulant. How could you ever control that?”