WADA are now pressing for four year bans for drugs it seems
A fascinating article:
LONDON — Enough with the tough talk. Let’s see some action.
That’s the message from international anti-doping officials, who are becoming convinced that two-year suspensions are too weak and want sports bodies to start imposing four-year bans to send drug cheats a stronger message.
Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code that took effect nearly two years ago, athletes can be punished with bans of up to four years for a first offense in “aggravating” cases.
However, federations and national doping bodies have stayed away from the four-year penalty, apparently worried that tougher penalties won’t stand up in court or simply because they’re content to stick with the two-year sanctions.
WADA Director General David Howman said those who wanted the option of tougher punishments seem to have lost their nerve.
“This four years was something that people who were advocating stronger penalties really wanted us to include, and so it was included,” Howman said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But 18 months later, it’s hardly being used, if at all.
“When it comes to the crunch, obviously people are not willing to be as tough as they sound.”
Howman said the longer ban is intended to benefit clean athletes.
“They don’t want to be lining up against people who cheat,” he said. “They get a two-year penalty and, quick as a flash, they’re back again.”
Arne Ljungqvist, the International Olympic Committee’s top anti-doping official and a WADA vice president, agreed that the four-year sanction hasn’t been used enough.
“No one has been doing it, so we are waiting for a suitable test case,” Ljungqvist told the AP. “So far people are still living with the idea that two years is the standard ban, which should not be the case in serious cases like EPO and steroids and the like. We will take action once we have a good case to pursue.”
Some legal experts argue a four-year ban for a first violation is Draconian and a restraint of trade. Costly court cases could make sports bodies think twice before trying to impose a four-year punishment.
“A four-year ban is effectively a life ban in most sports,” said Mike Morgan, a London-based lawyer specializing in doping regulations. “It is a very big step to take to impose that. … The day we start seeing four-year bans, it has to be justified. They really have to back it with some robust arguments and evidence.”
Four-year bans used to be the norm, but the penalty was cut in half after there were complaints that it went too far and wasn’t legally enforceable.
See the original here: well worth reading the rest!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=5792502
Our opinion? Yes – we are all for ANYTHING that cleans up sport – But…
i/ How can you know that drug violation is deliberate, not for example the result of deliberate spiking -
ii/ The procedures need tidying up. With the best will in the WORLD, athletes cannot say exactly where they will be months hence. How about common sense prevailing? A phone call up to eight hours before to agree a place and time with the athlete? Testers seem to be far too precious. Christine Ohurugu was clearly not shirking a drug test even that day. But she was unable to cross london in time for the testers. Why did they not come to her..or meet somewhere in between?
iii/ To pronounce a death sentence on an athletes career you had better be certain. I mean really certain!!! – That means shoddy test procedure should be met with the same culpability as doping. ie – The lab manager and technicians who fail to follow procedure should themselves be given a four year ban on further athlete testing.
iv/ The playing field should be level. Either ALL countries athletes can compete in the olympics on end of bans, or none.
And finally one we campaign for!!! – The process should have run its course at the time the media announce. B samples already tested, and decisions taken on suspensions – to prevent the speculations. Leaks from laboratories (particularly french) should result in the lab being excluded from any further testing.
