Give WADA more power: ASADA chief

ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt has called for WADA to be given more power after a meeting of national anti-doping agencies.

ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt has called for WADA to be given more power. (AAP)

ASADA chief Ben McDevitt has called for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to be given greater powers to catch and prosecute drug cheats in sport.

McDevitt made the call on Wednesday following a meeting of 17 national anti-doping organisations and cited the systemic doping uncovered in Russian sport as a key reason why WADA needed more far-reaching powers.

"The events of the last few months alone show that the global anti-doping system needs reform - there is no doubt about that," McDevitt said.

"If we truly want a level playing field across the world, and if we truly want to protect clean athletes, it is imperative that WADA is more empowered to do its job.

"I doubt the architects of the World Anti-Doping Code contemplated a deception of the type and scale as perpetrated by the Russian state. If they did, they certainly did not equip WADA with the tools to deal with it."

McDevitt said a global accord was needed to allow WADA to provide a more-level playing field in sports by successfully prosecuting individuals and sporting bodies who failed to comply with anti-doping protocols.