BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) should reassess its so-called “whereabouts” rule as many points contravene the European Union’s privacy laws, a key EU panel said yesterday.

The panel said there were “numerous issues that remain problematic” with the rule requiring athletes to give detailed schedules of their whereabouts for drug-testing which has angered many individuals and sports organisations and has led to legal challenges.

“Care should be taken to avoid the false belief that it ensures, throughout the world, an adequate level of protection for personal data processed in the EU, as required by EU law,” the panel said in an opinion published on its website.