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Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has stated that there should be "no place in the Olympic Games for international federations and National Olympic Committees who refuse to implement the Code".

His comments came on Monday during the opening ceremony of the World Conference on Doping in Sport, taking place this week in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The conference has brought together around 1,000 delegates to discuss and accept the proposed World Anti-Doping Code, which will harmonise anti-doping activities and processes across different countries and different sports in time for the 2004 Olympics and Paralympics in Athens.

Representing the UK in Copenhagen is Richard Caborn, the Minister for Sport, along with UK Sport’s Chief Executive Richard Callicott, and Director of Drug-Free Sport, Michele Verroken.

Rogge, who urged delegates to unite behind the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), stressed the importance of reaching agreement on the Code.

"WADA will be able to bring real added value if we harmonise our roles and regulations," he explained. "WADA will be effective if we all accept the anti-doping code.

"I urge the sports movement and the governments alike to approve, adopt and implement the final version of the code."

Rogge closed by pledging the IOC’s support to the code: "The IOC will accept the current version of the code even if, for example, we find the wording on the athletes from professional leagues not strong enough."

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• UK Sport, Drug-Free Sport

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