Bernie Rose: "Setting up this agency is proving more difficult than first thought"

The major agreement made in the "Lausanne Declaration" was the promise to set up an international anti-doping agency that will be in place for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

"This conference was a hugh triumph for sport," said the International Olympic Committee President, Juan Antonio Samaranch.

Adam Mynott: "There is an agreement to harmonise the measures to tackle the abuse of drugs in sport"

The IOC plan represents a compromise after repeated attacks on the proposed structure of the new agency and the sanctions to be taken against athletes found guilty.

The BBC Sports Correspondent in Lausanne, Harry Peart, says although this latest blueprint is not the final document, it is clear the original details of the new agency have been subject to much compromise.

The demands for fixed sanctions against athletes testing positive for serious drugs has been rejected in the face of objections from certain sports and countries.

International football's governing body, Fifa, said it would be unworkable, while the United States Olympic Committee feared fixed sanctions would be rejected in the courtroom.

Winter Olympics boss Marc Hodler (right) chats with IOC head Juan Antonio Samaranch

Instead, the proposal is that under exceptional circumstances there may be provision for a possible modification of the two-year ban.

Additionally, coaches and officials would be subject to the Olympic oath and more severe sanctions would be applied to them if they violate the Olympic medical code.

It is hoped the new agency will be formed before the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Before then there are still many problems to be solved. They fall into three categories: