Olympic Games

While acknowledging that the procedure could cause legal and ethical controversies, the International Olympic Committee said it is considering a proposal to use blood samples to test athletes for doping in the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The issue was raised at the IOC’s executive board meeting by Prince Alexandre de Merode, chairman of the IOC’s medical commission.

The IOC relies on urine samples to test athletes for use of drugs. But De Merode, pointing out that there was no consensus within the medical group on whether testing of blood samples should be compulsory, noted that some doctors and medical experts believe blood tests would be more efficient in detecting banned substances.

IOC Vice President Keba Mbaye, a judge with the International Court of Justice, warned that such testing could raise legal, moral and religious problems. In some countries, he said, it might violate laws and conventions on human rights and civil liberties.