Pope Benedict XVI denounces doping in sport

Pope Benedict XVI has called on athletes to avoid "shortcuts such as doping" to improve their performances, he told the Italian Olympic delegation on Monday.

"The pressure to obtain results should never push athletes to take shortcuts such as doping," the Pontiff told a group of some 200 people at the Vatican.

"Sport should be marked by loyalty in competition, respect for the body and the sense of solidarity but also joy and the satisfaction of a celebration," he added.

"The culture of sport should be based on the human being, a sport dedicated to man and not man dedicated to sport."