International surfing body plans for drug testing

The Association of Surfing Professionals is currently making comprehensive drug testing plans for screening professional surfers.

In 2012, the international governing body of surfing will come up with a policy for screening competitors and officials for performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.

From Guardian.co.uk:

The move comes after the death of the triple world champion Andy Irons in November 2010. A postmortem found he died from a heart attack and "acute mixed drug ingestion". Traces of methadone, methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, and a metabolite of cocaine were found in his bloodstream.

Another professional surfer, Anthony Ruffo, a 47-year-old pioneer of the Santa Cruz scene in the 1980s, is facing a possible jail sentence for selling methamphetamine after he was caught with an ounce of the drug.

"We believe this is a natural evolution in enhancing the professionalism of our sport," said Dave Prodan, a spokesman for the ASP. "This motion has the full support of the surfers on tour as they want to be taken more professionally, and believe this is a step in the right direction. We have been discussing and drafting a policy with the guidance of the World Anti Doping Agency for over two years and the budget, approved at the November board of directors meeting, has just allowed us the possibility of implementing it as soon as next year."

"I have seen guys who are stoners and they drop off the scene because it is not sustainable," he said. "Athletes are training hard. The way the contests are now, it will catch up with you," Gerry Fitzgerald, a professional in Ireland, said.