MCCAFFREY TO HEAD NEW DRUG PANEL

WASHINGTON (AP) - White House drug policy chief Barry McCaffrey says a
panel created by President Clinton must develop more effective ways to
prevent young athletes from turning to performance-enhancing drugs.

``Too many athletes still feel they must cheat to compete,'' McCaffrey
said Thursday in a statement issued by the Office of National Drug
Control Policy. ``As it stands, we risk creating new records that
cannot be bested without chemical engineering.''

He said the new task force, appointed Wednesday, is charged with
helping the sports community - from athletes, parents, and coaches to
leagues, governing bodies and international federations - ``develop a
comprehensive and effective approach to this problem.

``Most importantly, we must develop more effective ways to prevent
children from turning to these drugs.''

Clinton established the panel on performance-enhancing drugs in sports
and ordered the group to develop better ways for the federal
government to combat the problem.

``The use of drugs in sports has reached a level that endangers not
just the legitimacy of athletic competition but also the lives and
health of athletes,'' the executive order signed by Clinton said.

A study last year found the rate of steroid use has risen 50 percent
among young people of both sexes, Clinton noted.

McCaffrey, various federal agencies and advisory boards will make
appointments to the panel, which will include a separate group to
study the Olympics.

``With the Sydney Games just 35 days away, and with only 18 months
before the world gathers in Salt Lake City for the 2002 Games, this
next phase of U.S leadership is critical,'' McCaffrey said. ``We owe
this to all of today's athletes.''

McCaffrey added that ``we have begun to make progress ... still, much
remains to be done. There are too many gaps - some scientific and some
of commitment - in existing anti-drug and -doping programs.''