Fifa told to get tough on drugs or face Olympic ban

Football risks being banished from the Olympic Games over its refusal to implement tougher anti-drugs laws, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Dick Pound, said yesterday.

Fifa's doping rules, in particular the current minimum ban of six months for a first-time offender, were adjudged by the Court of Arbitration for Sport as falling short of complying with the World Anti-Doping Code, which recommends a two-year ban.

The judgement described the six-month ban as "definitely not a deterrent", but Fifa is not obliged to amend its rules since CAS also concluded that Fifa is within its rights under Swiss law to dictate its own policy.

But football still faces potential exclusion from the Olympics. "The Olympic Charter provides that no sport can be included or remain in the program of the Olympic Games if it does not comply with the WADC," Pound said.