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Updated at 9:37 a.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Soccer: FIFA makes peace with WADA on drug testing players

Associated Press

ZURICH — FIFA has reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency in a dispute over rules for drug testing elite soccer players.

Soccer's world governing body says Wednesday that WADA accepted its plan to limit the number of players detailing their whereabouts every day during offseason breaks.

FIFA will choose players liable for drug testing on any given day if they are defined as "at risk" — those recovering from injury or who previously used a banned substance.

It told WADA last month that players deserve privacy during holidays and should not be held to the out-of-competition rule that took effect in the 2009 WADA Code.

Athletes in individual sports such as cycling must give their whereabouts for at least one hour of every day.