AKIPRESS.COM - Doping is one of the major threats to sports, risks athletes lives and health and heralds a negative spirit in sports, Craig Reddie, the World Anti Doping Agency's President, said at the 12th SportAccord Convention.

Reedie spoke on doping usage and the strategies to prevent it on the second day of the world's biggest sports congress, the SportAccord convention at Susesi Luxury Resort in Antalya, Turkey.

He said that the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has joined forces with the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF) in the implementation of new precautions to prevent doping in sport and in the protection of rights of innocent athletes.

“We should increase education and awareness. I do not believe that criminal sanctions on athletes make sense.” He stressed that they want to co-operate with governments so that the fight against doping will continue to gain support and get stronger.

“Athletes asked us to increase the sanctions on doping – they want longer sanctions,” Reedie stated.

However, WADA's President explained that its budget needs to increase to develop new methods for research and development against doping. “WADA's budget decreased to $29 million,” he noticed.