Britains WADA non-compliance not an issue,says IOC

Britains non-compliance with anti-doping rules is a mere technicality that will have no bearing on the participation of British athletes at London Olympics,the IOC said on Monday.

The World Anti-Doping Agency ruled on Sunday that the British Olympic Associations lifetime ban for drug offenders violates the anti-doping code,which sets out rules and sanctions for all Olympic bodies. Britain is the only country with a lifetime drug suspension,and the BOA was the only national Olympic committee found in non-compliance with the code by WADAs foundation board in Montreal.

The BOA is expected to defend its rule at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Compliance with the WADA Code is mandatory under International Olympic Committee rules. The ultimate sanction for failing to comply is exclusion from the Olympics. But the IOC noted that Britain8217;s national anti-doping agency,UK Anti-Doping,is fully compliant with the code and said there was no risk to athletes from the 2012 host nation.