Gymnastics, wrestling, volleyball, handball and modern pentathlon have met World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) requirements by starting out-of-competition testing programs, WADA director general David Howman revealed.

 

He said: "They have done what was expected.

 

"This removes the impediment that was in the way last year."

 

The move, which will be confirmed at WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board meetings in Montreal this weekend, means that all 26 summer Olympic sports are in compliance.

 

It also lifts any threat of the five sports being kicked out of the Olympics.

 

Under International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules, any sports that do not comply with the WADA code can be removed from the Games programme.

 

At the last WADA meetings in November, the five sports were singled out for failing to follow the code, which was first approved in 2003 and set out rules across all sports and countries.

 

Rather than formally rebuke the five sports, WADA extended the deadline for six months to give the federations more time to come into line.

 

Howman said: "They are doing what they didn't do last year.

 

"In a nutshell, we don't have the same concerns any more."

 

No-notice, out-of-competition testing is considered vital to deterring and catching drug cheats.

 

Dozens of athletes from around the world were caught ahead of the Beijing Olympics in surprise pre-Games tests.

 

The General Association of International Sports Federations recently decided to open an anti-doping office in Lausanne to help set up out-of-competition testing programmes for smaller sports that cannot afford to do so on their own.

 

WADA has been monitoring compliance with the code since its adoption six years ago. WADA has no power to take action against non-compliant bodies, leaving that to the IOC.

 

Under a change expected to be approved this weekend, WADA will publish a list at each board meeting of sports bodies that are in compliance with the code, rather than those that are not.

 

Howman (pictured) said: "Rather than a red light policy, it will be a green light policy."

 

WADA is also expected to finalize an agreement with European countries on so-called "data protection" -- the information athletes give about their medicine, doctors, coaches and other personal issues.

 

The agency may also consider the fallout from the controversial "whereabouts" rule, which requires elite athletes to make themselves available for out-of-competition testing for one hour a day, 365 days a year.

 

Many athletes contend the system violates their right to privacy, and FIFA has sought an exemption for football and other team sports.

 

Howman said the rule, which went into effect on January 1, is gaining in acceptance and will be reviewed after a full year in practice.

 

Howman said: "There was a rush of criticism in January and February.

 

"As time has gone on, we are being proved to be right in saying, 'Give it time.' "