The Spanish government is in the process of implementing notably stricter legislation in an effort to align the nation’s anti-doping efforts with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards.
Last March, Madrid’s anti-doping laboratory became the 5th lab to have its accreditation suspended in less than a year. The suspension was “a direct result of WADA Foundation Board’s 19 March decision to declare the Spanish Anti-Doping Agency (AEPSAD) non-compliant.”
As such, the nation’s government is offering up legislation to bring its existing, out-of-date anti-doping law from 2013 into compliance, adhering to the present day, stronger WADA standards. Among the changes proposed:
- The length of suspension for doping will be doubled from 2 to 4 years
- Anyone complicit in the aiding of doping to an athlete would be deemed punishable; this would include, but not be limited to, doctors, team directors and sports clubs
- Statute of limitation for doping offenses would be raised from 8 to 10 years
Spanish Parliament will need to vote on these proposals in order for them to become law, with no time-table having been released as of yet.