WADA announced earlier this week that is has entered into an agreement with drug maker Pfizer to share information to keep new drugs from being abused by athletes for performance benefits.

 WADA will share with Pfizer information about which substances are being abused, and in return Pfizer will keep track of which of its drugs under development have potential performance-enhancing properties, and share confidential scientific data with WADA to assist in the development of test to detect the drugs.

"A central aspect of WADA's strategy is to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies so that medicinal substances of interest to dopers can be identified," WADA Director General, David Howman said. "In turn, this will allow us to develop detection methods at a much faster rate. Striking this partnership with Pfizer is a win-win for both parties, and comes at a crucial time with the introduction of the revised World Anti-Doping Code just weeks away."

WADA has been trying to formalize the information sharing with the pharmaceutical industry since it signed a joint declaration with the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations in July 2010, the 'Cooperation in the Fight against Doping in Sport'.