Sydney Games to have anti-drugs oath

Sydney: In an Olympic first, athletes commit themselves "to a sport without doping and without drugs" at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Games on Friday.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) sources said the "we won't cheat" clause had been inserted into the traditional Olympic oath, which will be read on behalf of all athletes by Australian women's hockey team captain Rechelle Hawkes.

It was introduced into the oath in revisions to the IOC Charter last year that the Olympic movement made in response to a damaging scandal over corruption and sleaze and a perception that it was soft on drugs.

The oath reads:

"In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams".



(c) Reuters Limited.