BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-racism code will be in use during the 2007 ICC WI World Cup, scheduled to be played next year in the Caribbean.

Chris Dehring, the chief executive officer and managing director of the tournament, indicated recently that racism and obscene gestures would not be tolerated at next year's competition, with stiff penalties awaiting those who offended.

He indicated that the anti-racism code was being actioned in the CWC office in Kingston, Jamaica, and would be implemented for the tournament, which runs from March 5 to April 28.

"When you are hosting international fans from 16 teams there is a strong possibility that one or two racists may get into that crowd. We do not have any control over that," Dehring noted.

"Initially, we did not fully know what the policy was, but now we have gotten hold of it and we are looking at it. We have a copy of it and it is being actioned across the offices. We will be looking at it closely and it will be discussed at length."

Dehring added, however, that he did not expect racism to be a problem at the competition.

Not part of our culture

"Racism is not part of our culture and we do not expect it to rear its head in the World Cup," the tournament's point man stressed.

Under the ICC's anti-racism code, patrons at matches heard making racist remarks and making obscene gestures will be ejected from the ground and will face further punishment, such as being banned from future matches.

The ICC's anti-racism code of ethics states: "Spectators shall not engage in any conduct, act towards or speak to any player, umpire, referee or other official or other spectators in a manner which offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies that other person on the basis of that other person's race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin."

Subsequent to South Africa's tour of Australia earlier this year when fast bowler Makhaya Ntini suffered racial abuse, a report was prepared for the ICC's board by India's solicitor general, Goolam Vahanvati.

Cricket authorities faced other challenges during the ongoing Ashes series, where insults were allegedly hurled at spinner Monty Panesar and seamer Sajid Mahmood, who are both of Asian descent.

The ICC toughened its stance on racism in September with lifetime bans being introduced for offenders.

ICC members who fail to uphold the code can face penalties which include the loss of international status for the ground where any incidents occur.