The World Anti-Doping Agency could threaten the future of Olympic soccer if FIFA (as well as UEFA, the European soccer confederation) continues to resist a provision that requires them to report the “whereabouts” of players for at least one hour each day.
Olympic soccer has never been a big deal for FIFA, but its resistance in rooted in more complicated factors. In World Soccer magazine for April (not available online), Keir Radnedge warns that the international soccer governing board shouldn’t risk testing WADA’s resolve:
“Standing aloof is not an option. Staying out in the cold — no matter how you dress it up — says you have something to hide, the secret that ‘dare not mention its name.’ “
As for the players:
“If pampered, out-of-the-real-world superstars are too deeply engrossed with their PlayStations, the ‘whereabouts’ information can be provided by their agents and personal managers.”
Maybe so, but this all smacks of far too much Big Brother than is necessary. I’m no fan of how FIFA operates in general, but perhaps its recalcitrance can get WADA to back down on this nasty little piece of unnecessary oversight.
