ROME - Doping will remain a criminal offense during the Turin Olympics, allowing for possible police raids on the athletes’ village.

No changes were made to Italy’s tough drug laws after weeks of dialogue ended Monday between Italian authorities and the International Olympic Committee.

“The IOC is not above the law and has never expected or requested to be,” IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “From the IOC perspective, that has not been where our focus was for the whole process.”

Italian law calls for criminal prosecution of sports doping offenders. Under IOC rules, athletes can be disqualified and stripped of their medals, but not be charged with a crime.

“Raids in the village could happen for a number of issues. The IOC certainly respects that,” said Davies, who stressed that the issue of raids is being treated as “hypothetical” and is not expected.

Mario Pescante, Italy’s government supervisor for the games, had sought unsuccessfully to get the Italian parliament to suspend the law during the Feb. 10-26 Winter Olympics.

“I don’t see the necessity for raids, since positive tests will be announced and everything will be done in the light of day,” Pescante said.

The IOC never intended to try to soften doping rules, and there will be a 71 percent increase in drug tests in Turin compared to past games, Davies said.

The IOC was concerned about three other doping issues, which have been resolved.

—The IOC will be in charge of testing and will delegate the procedures to Turin organizers and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

—The 2006 WADA list of banned substances will be used, ending worries that the 2005 list would still be in effect.

—Hyperbaric chambers, banned under Italian law but not specified in the World Anti-doping Code, will be prohibited in the Olympic village.

Hyperbaric chambers simulate high altitude conditions and help boost endurance. Davies said the chambers were banned at previous Olympics.

The IOC will send letters Tuesday to all national Olympic committees taking part in the Turin Games to explain the anti-doping situation, Davies said.

“We want clarity on anti-doping issues for athletes and teams,” she said.

Officials will carry out 1,200 drug tests in all — using 838 urine samples and 362 blood specimens.

“With an ex-surgeon as president, you can have no doubt how strongly the IOC feels about a fight on doping in sport,” Davies said, referring to IOC president Jacques Rogge.