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Soccer's place is jeopardised by rift
PARIS, May 17 (Reuters) - Soccer could be dropped from this summer's Olympis Games if FIFA does not settle a new dispute over doping sanctions with World Anti-Doping Agency WADA and the International Olympic Commitee.

At its executive committee in Paris on Monday, soccer's world governing body repeated its position that each doping case should be dealt with individually.

WADA agree with that, but insist on keeping the right to appeal against any decision taken on doping by FIFA which WADA feels is too lenient.

That is the sticking point which could prevent the agreement between FIFA, WADA and the IOC being signed at FIFA's Centennial Congress in Paris on Friday.

If that fails to happen, soccer's place in the summer Olympics is in jeopardy.

FIFA are the only major Olympic federation with the International Cycling Union (UCI) to have refused to sign WADA's anti-doping code because it imposes an automatic ban of two years for doping offences.

The International Olympic Committee made it clear that any sports whose federations did not sign the code would not be allowed to compete in Athens.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, IOC chief Jacques Rogge, and WADA head Dick Pound are to meet on Friday at FIFA's Centenary Congress to sign the agreement on the issue.

STILL TIME

At a press conference in Paris after the executive committee meeting, Blatter said there was still time to sign the agreement.

"I cannot imagine that football will not be part of the Olympic Games in Athens this summer," said Blatter.

"But if we don't reach an agreement with WADA then we will fight alone against doping," he added.

FIFA spokesman Markus Siegler, detailing the background of Monday's developments, explained: "The position is clear, FIFA still wants to sign the agreement and at the excutive committee meeting today in Paris, the executive committee agreed unanimously that we would sign once WADA agreed in writing with the conditions already elaborated with FIFA over individual case management.

"But now, as far as we are concerned from what Dick Pound has said, WADA have moved back on their position regarding individual case management to the position they were taking 18 months or two years ago.

"We are due to sign the agreement with WADA at the Congress on Friday, and if this does not happen it will be a great opportunity missed. It is difficult to understand why WADA have taken this position again," Siegler added.

Rogge, in Lausanne to draw up a shortlist of 2012 Olympic bid cities, had no comment on the latest rift.

Pound, who was in Lausanne on Sunday, had left for Paris by the time Blatter's comments were known.

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies merely reiterated the IOC's stance. "From an IOC perspective, it's clear and straightforward. All international federations have until the opening ceremony of the Athens Games to sign WADA's anti-doping code."