The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has told FIFA its anti-doping regulations do not comply with those of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

But the court cconfirmed that Fifa was not legally obliged, under Swiss law, to alter any of its existing rules.

FIFA and WADA made separate applications for an advisory opinion from the court after years of dispute between the two bodies.

“This independent opinion confirms that FIFA anti-doping rules do not comply with the World Anti-Doping Code,” WADA chairman Dick Pound said in a written statement.

“These rules differ with the Code in several key areas, including sanctions. We will now wait to see whether FIFA wishes our assistance in making sure that their rules are amended in time for their World Cup in Germany this summer and the commencement of the Olympic qualifying tournament.”

FIFA has yet to sign up to the WADA code, because it is unwilling to agree that a first offence by a player should automatically merit a two-year ban.

FIFA responded to the court’s findings by stating that CAS had “confirmed FIFA’s practice of using individual case management when sanctioning doping offences.”

The organisation also said CAS had ruled that FIFA’s provisions over doping were “to the greatest possible extent in line with the World Anti-Doping Code (and) fully in line with Swiss law.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that Monday’s legal opinion “laid the foundations for resolving any differences that exist with regard to the World Anti-Doping Code”.

Blatter added that his organisation “will attempt to solve any differences on its own initiative.”

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