Fahey: WADA makes difference in doping fight

MONTREAL (AP) -The World Anti-Doping Agency has made a "significant difference'' in combatting doping since its founding 10 years ago.

That's according to WADA president John Fahey, who will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the agency's founding on Wednesday.

"As the independent international organization responsible for promoting, coordinating and monitoring the global fight, WADA has made a significant difference in the protection of athletic integrity and offered athletes good reasons to believe in the future of sport,'' Fahey said Tuesday in a statement.

IOC member Dick Pound was the first president of the body, which was founded on Nov. 10, 1999. Fahey took over from Pound in 2008.

"All over the world, awareness is much higher today than it was 10 years ago,'' WADA director general David Howman said.

To celebrate WADA's 10-year anniversary, the Swedish capital of Stockholm will host the agency's end-of-the-year executive committee meetings on Dec. 1-2.