WADA approves guidelines for biological passport scheme

The World Anti-Doping Agency has ratified guidelines for its Athlete Biological Passport system which has been under consideration since 2002.

The scheme helps sporting authorities monitor athletes' blood profiles for evidence of cheating.

WADA said the guidelines, which are not mandatory, will "provide anti-doping organisations worldwide with a robust and harmonised framework to implement this promising strategy in their fight against doping in sport."

"It's a significant step in terms of the weaponry and tools required in our fight against doping in sport," WADA chairman Johan Fahey told reporters after the closing of a two-day meeting.

"It's not in itself the answer to all of our problems, it simply adds to our capacity to conduct this fight."

The International Skating Union (ISU) and the International Cycling Union (UCI) have already put biological profile systems of their own into practice.

Five-time Olympic speedskating champion Claudia Pechstein was handed a two-year ban by the ISU in July after it said her blood profile had included abnormal values in a series of tests, in particular during February's world all-round championships.

In June the UCI started disciplinary proceedings against five riders after discovering suspicious data in their biological passports.

Since January 2008, the UCI collects blood samples from all professional riders to create a medical profile, or passport, to be compared with data registered in doping tests.