Europe and the World Anti-Doping Agency are set to finalize an agreement this weekend on one of the most contentious issues that have separated them since the Jan. 1 implementation of the latest global anti-doping code.
The compromise deal on the protection of the information athletes give about their medicine, doctors, coaches and personal issues will be pushed through during a meeting of the WADA executive committee and foundation board in Montreal, officials from both sides told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Even if the agreement is limited to so-called data protection issues, it is a sign that the atmosphere between the sides has eased enough to make the dispute over athlete availability for out-of-competition testing easier to deal with.
"We now have a situation where Europe is going to be happy, and all is well," WADA director general David Howman said in a telephone interview. "There is greater understanding of what everybody wants."
The breakthrough came after a series of meetings over the past weeks between experts on both sides, with legal concerns addressed in changes to terms and wording of the standards on data privacy.
Europe had been concerned the code would not stand up to legal scrutiny in several nations where data protection laws are among the most stringent in the world.
"We had much satisfaction that WADA took on board all the European proposals," said Markus Adelsbach of the Council of Europe, which represents 47 member states.
The Europeans said national anti-doping agencies could be caught between WADA rules and data protection legislation, with little clue what to do.
"We wanted to overcome that," Adelsbach said. "Last year there was some friction but we have come to a very good working agreement."
The deal and the changes will not be enacted until the WADA executive committee approves them Saturday. No further objections are expected.
Last year, European demands for changes were rejected and a request for a suspension of the code before all issues were cleared up was voted down as the code came into operation on Jan. 1.
The deal does not affect the criticism that has centered on the so-called whereabouts rule _ the requirement that elite athletes must give drug-testers three months' notice of their location for one hour each day _ seven days a week _ between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Many athletes contend the system violates their right to privacy.
Prominent athletes and major federations like FIFA have been increasingly critical.
The issue will be raised at the WADA meetings over the weekend but no firm decisions are expected.
Howman said support for the system was increasing following comments from IOC president Jacques Rogge and the world cycling federation.
"We will review it after a year's practice," he said.
