Alexandre de Merode
Encyclopedia
Prince Alexandre of Mérode (born May 24, 1934 in Etterbeek
, Belgium
- died November 19, 2002) was a member of the Belgian princely House of Merode
and was the head of drug
testing policy for the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) until his death.
Mérode's position at the IOC was not without criticism. Following allegations of doping at the 1984 Summer Olympics
, samples from suspected drug cheats were never actually tested. The prince claimed that the paperwork was accidentally discarded when the Los Angeles organizing committee converted his temporary office back into a suite immediately after the closing ceremony, however he has been accused of deliberately destroying the evidence.
Following record-shattering performances by Chinese
female swimmers in the 1990s and a doping scandal during the 1998 Tour de France
, international sport created the World Anti-Doping Agency
, effectively removing control of drug testing from the IOC and Mérode.
In 1998 Mérode backed up claims that certain athletes were using the controversial abortion doping
procedure for performance enhancing benefits, however he did not provide any proof.
In May 2000 he tendered his resignation as head of the IOC medical commission, however he withdrew his resignation when IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch
asked him to stay.
He died of lung cancer on November 19, 2002.
Etterbeek
Etterbeek is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It neighbours the municipalities of the City of Brussels, Ixelles, Auderghem, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Schaerbeek....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
- died November 19, 2002) was a member of the Belgian princely House of Merode
House of Merode
The princely house of Merode is one of the most important houses of the Belgian nobility.The surname of the family and the name of the House is mostly written de Mérode in but was originally von Merode due to the German descent of the House...
and was the head of drug
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
testing policy for the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC) until his death.
Mérode's position at the IOC was not without criticism. Following allegations of doping at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, samples from suspected drug cheats were never actually tested. The prince claimed that the paperwork was accidentally discarded when the Los Angeles organizing committee converted his temporary office back into a suite immediately after the closing ceremony, however he has been accused of deliberately destroying the evidence.
Following record-shattering performances by Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
female swimmers in the 1990s and a doping scandal during the 1998 Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, international sport created the World Anti-Doping Agency
World Anti-Doping Agency
The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...
, effectively removing control of drug testing from the IOC and Mérode.
In 1998 Mérode backed up claims that certain athletes were using the controversial abortion doping
Abortion doping
Abortion doping refers to the rumoured practice of purposefully inducing pregnancy then abortion for athletic performance-enhancing benefits.-Physical benefits:...
procedure for performance enhancing benefits, however he did not provide any proof.
In May 2000 he tendered his resignation as head of the IOC medical commission, however he withdrew his resignation when IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch
Juan Antonio Samaranch
Don Juan Antonio Samaranch y Torelló, 1st Marquis of Samaranch, Grandee of Spain , known in Catalan as Joan Antoni Samaranch i Torelló , was a Catalan Spanish sports administrator who served as the seventh President of the International Olympic Committee from 1980 to 2001...
asked him to stay.
He died of lung cancer on November 19, 2002.