Lausanne, Switzerland - The IAAF will continue its leading role in the anti-doping fight this weekend as it plays host to the 2006 IAAF World Anti-Doping Symposium to be held from September 30 to October 2.

Concentrating on the theme of "optimising effectiveness in the anti-doping fight", the IAAF symposium is a three-day gathering of international anti-doping experts and athletics stakeholders. They are coming together to discuss current challenges and perspectives, and to seek a consensus on how to increase the effectiveness of anti-doping efforts.

Nearly 400 participants will be in attendance, representing organisations such as the IAAF Member Federations, National Anti-Doping Agencies, WADA, International Sports Federations, the IAAF Athletes' Commission, and many more...

"This IAAF Anti-Doping Symposium is an extremely important opportunity for the athletics and anti-doping world to come together and discuss the effectiveness of the current anti-doping fight and seek agreement for areas of improvement and change," said Dr. Gabriel Dolle, Director of the IAAF Medical and Anti-Doping Department.

"We as the IAAF will be highlighting our experiences since the implementation of the World Anti-Doping code in 2003, addressing both the areas of success in the IAAF programme as well as discussing the improvements which are needed in this global fight against doping."

"I am also extremely pleased that we will hear from many of the IAAF Athlete Commission Members as they present their opinions on doping in sport as well as their suggestions for the future strategy of the IAAF anti-doping programme."

Examples of the many important areas of discussion:

- Current Anti-Doping Realities - Current strategies for detection and prosecution of doping offences - Specific issues arising from the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code - Other methods for the prevention and deterrence of doping

Speakers on the Symposium programme include:

Mr. Lamine Diack - IAAF President Prof. Arne Ljungqvist - IAAF Senior Vice President Mrs. Paula Radcliffe - IAAF Athletes Commission Mr. David Howman - World Anti-Doping Agency Dr. Martial Saugy / Prof. Christiane Ayotte - Directors, WADA Accredited Laboratories

A Daily News Summary from the Symposium will be published in the Anti-Doping section of the IAAF website - www.iaaf.org/antidoping/news/index.html