Canada's member of the International Olympic Committee says athletes who use performance-enhancing substances are nothing but "sociopathic cheats."

Dick Pound, who's also the former chairman of the Montreal-based world anti-doping agency, also harshly criticized professional sports for remaining slow to crack down on doping and warns pro leagues risk losing their fan base.

Speaking on a pre-Olympic panel on ethics and sport Monday night, Pound said the defenders of those caught doping have tried to portray them as rebels fighting a rule-bound establishment that limits their performance potential.

But the Montreal lawyer said the cheaters are not being dealt with unfairly or having their privacy violated when their positive doping tests are publicized.

He says the rules are designed to create a level playing field for all competitors. Once someone's positive test is confirmed, he said, it's important to publish their names so young people can see their heroes exposed as cheats.

Pound also suggested top professional sports leagues and players associations are hypocritical on doping - publicly condemning the practice but operating in ways that minimize the likelihood of getting caught and the penalties for those who do.