Minister still keen on criminal sanctions

Minister for Tourism and Sport Dr Jim McDaid yesterday reiterated that he is considering applying criminal sanctions against those caught abusing drugs in sport. However, there is no legislation yet in place.

In a statement yesterday Dr McDaid stated that: "he is seeking means in Irish law to apply criminal sanctions, including jail terms, to those who contaminate sport with drugs. These considerations are at an advanced stage and he (the Minister) is hopeful he will be able to bring forward definite proposals this year."

The Minister first raised the issue of the criminalisation of athletes at a drugs symposium organised by the Olympic Council of Ireland in Dublin last November. It was a suggestion which received criticism from psychiatrist Wade Exum, head of the US Drugs Programme, who countered that athletes who take drugs are more victims than criminals.

The organisers of Salt Lake City's successful bid to stage the 2002 Winter Olympics helped the son of a top IOC member to get a job, USA Today reported yesterday.

The newspaper said the son of South Korea's Kim UnYong, one of the IOC's vice-presidents, was taken on by a company called Keystone Communications at the start of the 1990s after approaches by Salt Lake City officials.