IOC chief Rogge sees progress in battle with drug cheats

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has said authorities were making progress in the fight against doping in sport but conceded it was impossible to catch all the cheats.

"I think we are making progress because as you have seen a lot of very famous athletes have been caught and that proves exactly that the system is working," Rogge said.

"We are humble in our fight against doping," he added. "We are not pretending that we can catch all cheats but we catch many cheats."

Rogge's comments come after a number of high-profile doping cases in recent months. Marketing experts have warned the adverse publicity could affect the amount of cash flowing into sport.

US cyclist Floyd Landis tested positive for testosterone on his way to victory in the Tour de France and Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin faces a life ban after a positive test for the same drug.

¤ The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) stopped short of banning the use of hypoxic tents but cautioned that their use could pose health risks. The use of hypoxic tents, which simulate high altitude conditions, has become commonplace among the world's high performance and professional athletes. The WADA executive committee also approved the list of prohibited substances and methods for 2007 at its meeting on Saturday. The list was clarified to state that all stimulants are prohibited and to incorporate benzylpiperazine in the list of stimulant examples.