Zurich - The ruling football body FIFA and the World Anti-Doping Agency will set up a partnership to develop a biological passport for footballers.

The announcement was made at a meeting between FIFA boss Joseph Blatter and WADA president John Fahey at the FIFA headquarters.

The biological passport, similar to that used in cycling, is part of a new anti-doping programme of FIFA. Fahey said that target tests will be the key to success.

Fahey named FIFA's efforts in the fight against substance abuse an "extensive anti-doping programme that is compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code" but also noted that there was room for improvement in the area.

Like other team sports, FIFA said that footballers must not have to be available for out-of-competition tests every day, by contrast to individual sports athletes, because their whereabouts are known.

The FIFA also invited WADA to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as independent observers. (dpa)