The Times:

Times 02 11 05
p74

Coach In Trouble

Drugs in sport: A canoeing coach to Great Britain's national development
squad is being investigated over allegations that he called for all
competitors to be allowed to take drugs so that no athlete would have an
unfair advantage. Krassimir Ivanov is claimed to have made the statement in
an interview with a newspaper in Belgium.

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The Telegraph:

Telegraph 02 11 05
Screening for coaches
By Tom Knight

A screening programme to monitor foreign coaches coming to work in Britain
is to be introduced by UK Sport.

With more coaches expected to arrive as part of the drive for excellence in
the build-up to the 2012 Olympics, it will be down to the Government's
anti-doping agency to look into their backgrounds.

The move follows recent comments attributed to Krassimir Ivanov, the
Bulgarian given a key coaching role in the British Canoe Union.

Ivanov was quoted in a Belgian newspaper saying he believed drugs should be
legalised to provide a level playing field. He later claimed the comments
had been taken out of context.

Ivanov had admitted taking drugs when he was competing for Bulgaria but
insisted athletes were told they were taking vitamins. UK Sport, however,
want Ivanov to explain his comments.

John Scott, the UK Sport Chief Executive, said: "There should be a
distinction between those athletes who had a system imposed on them and
those who were administering the system.

"However, we have sought confirmation about his attitude to drugs and a
statement that he will abide by the anti-doping policy of the BCU and
ourselves. We need to ensure governing bodies can be confident who they are
appointing."

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