The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has approved a $1.47 million increase in its expenditure budget for next year.
The rise will lift WADA's budget to $21.7 million, the Montreal-based agency said in a statement on its website on Sunday.
WADA's foundation board, which made the decision, considered the extra responsibilities it would have in 2005, including monitoring of compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and implementation of a computer-based Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS).
The budget increase was also needed to offset currency fluctuations, which have had a negative effect on WADA's budget, the statement said.
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"This increase is the absolute minimum necessary for WADA to not only meet its responsibilities under the Code but to continue to move forward in crucial areas such as research and education."
The board was also updated on the status of WADA's funding. To date this year, WADA has received nearly $20 million in dues owed by world governments and the Olympic movement since 2002.
The agency has now received approximately 80 percent of its budget for 2004. The International Olympic Committee, on behalf of the Olympic movement, matches dollar for dollar contributions made by governments.
"Governments seem to have moved past the teething problems they had in funding WADA the first few years of our existence," Pound said.
"They are showing their commitment to the fight against doping and this allows us to do what is asked of us on a worldwide basis."
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