Medical expert calls for change to tackle drugs in sport and restore public confidence

A medical expert says a new approach is needed to tackle drugs in sport and restore public confidence.

Cardiologist at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Insitute, Professor Andre La Gerche, says the current list of banned substances should be scrapped, instead introducing a small list of allowed drugs.

“It’s clear to me the current system it doesn’t work, we’ve still got drugs in sport and we are rapidly losing the confidence of the public, and their belief in sport,” he said.

“I think there’s a number of possible systems that need to be discussed.

“My personal favoured approach is to take away the banned list, and have a very small allowed list and have things like anti-inflammatory drugs and simple antibiotics.”

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