IOC steps up drug pressure

A new agency set up by the International Olympic Committee to combat drug-taking by athletes is stepping up its campaign ahead of the Sydney Olympics later this year.

The World Anti-Doping Agency says it is to carry out an extra two-and-a-half thousand tests outside competition, in addition to those already being held by the various sports federations.

The BBC Sports correspondent says that although pressure is mounting against athletes taking banned drugs, the sports authorities face a major task in the absence of agreed sanctions for breaking the rules.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service