IOC president Jacques Rogge believes 2004 marked a breakthrough in the fight to rid sport of drug cheats despite the doping scandals that blighted the Athens Olympics.

"It's a positive year, if I dare say, for the fight against doping," the International Olympic Committee chief told French sports daily l'Equipe in an interview published Monday.

Rogge said the increasing influence of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the change of attitude by US anti-doping authorities had been the main improvements.

"This changing position has led to its first results," Rogge said. "We also made major scientific breakthroughs. From the detection of (the blood-boosting drug) EPO...to blood testing in Athens, we've made constant progress."

The Athens Olympics, Rogge's first summer Games as IOC president, were rocked by a doping saga involving Greek sprinters Katerina Thanou and Costas Kenteris who have been charged over missed drugs tests on the eve of the Games. Both deny any wrongdoing.

"I considered it as a breakthrough," said Rogge, who added he had also been pleased in 1988 in Seoul when he was woken up and told about Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson's positive dope test.

"My first reaction was 'Great!' -- to me it was a victory," he said.

"We are tracking down cheaters wherever they are, regardless of political implications that we should keep a blind eye on the host country," he said. "(If) they're suspects, we test them, they're positive, we ban them."

Rogge also said he welcomed the scandal surrounding the BALCO laboratory in the US that has engulfed a number of leading American athletes.

(Agencies)