Spain pledges doping rule changes

Tue, 31 Jan 19:44:00 2012

Spain plans to take "urgent" action to bring its legislation into line with World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines, the country's new Sports Minister said on Tuesday.

Spritze, syringe, doping - 0

In a speech to parliament, Jose Ignacio Wert said updating doping rules was vital for Madrid's bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games and the government had already been in touch with WADA since its election victory late last year.

"It is essential that the impact of this law on Spanish judicial procedure is minutely examined as well as the implications it has regarding fundamental rights," Wert, who also has the education and culture portfolios, told legislators.

The government intended to push the new framework through parliament "as quickly as possible" and "reaffirm the commitment to take all necessary steps in the fight against doping", he added.

Some of Spain's highest-profile athletes have been implicated in doping cases in recent years, most notably three-times Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, and there is a perception the country does not do enough to tackle drug cheats.

Contador tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour and was cleared by the Spanish federation, only for the International Cycling Union and WADA to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

CAS said this week it would announce its decision on Monday.

In October, Spain's Supreme Court upheld an appeal lodged by the nation's professional cycling association against changes to anti-doping rules that were adopted in 2009, saying the government did not adequately consult those affected.

The cabinet had approved the changes to the testing regime in 2009 to address concerns expressed by the IOC in its assessment of Madrid's failed bid for the 2016 summer Games.

Reacting to the Supreme Court's ruling, the IOC said Spain had been deemed compliant by WADA and the government had plenty of time to enact any changes to the testing regime before the 2020 Olympic host city election.

Tokyo, Istanbul, Rome, Azeri capital Baku and Doha in Qatar are the other candidates for the 2020 Games with the winner decided in 2013.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 11 of 11

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  1. Chem- I believe Spain didn't find him guilty, but­ at McQuaid's request asked him to accept a ban.­ They never reviewed the case until Contador told them­ to stuff it. Guilty or not guilty, who knows. But I­ don't think the case was even reviewed until­ Contador told them he wasn't going to kiss­ McQuaid's behind.

    From Maxx92, on Thu 2 Feb 0:21

  2. Phil- Cycling, track & field, & swimming are­ the only sports to actually fight doping outside of the­ Olympics. It's not that footballers don't dope.­ It's that the doping tests aren't there to­ catch them. When they are there, big stars go down, so­ they can't happen that often.

    From Maxx92, on Thu 2 Feb 0:19

  3. This is funny :-) and Spain wanting changes? Hilarious­

    Contador tested POSITIVE,
    1. Spain`s cycling­ federation found him guilty, and gave him 1 yr ban
    2.­ Then the whole spain didnt like the verdict , then­ PRESIDENT OF SPAIN got involved and guess what ...not­ guilty

    CHANGING, UPDATING, ADDING more rules is­ POINTLESS if it is only gonna be used to lynch the­ average cyclist in the peloton. This is nothing but­ HYPOCRISY. Yes, I said it ....I stand for every word,­ you can thumb me down.

    From chem452002, on Thu 2 Feb 0:11

  4. What a joke! Spain against doping?! Come off it!

    From Misi, on Wed 1 Feb 22:54

  5. Horse and stable door ???

    From Terry, on Wed 1 Feb 22:51

  6. Not quite sure why this article appeared in the Cycling­ section, surley this concerns ALL SPORTS.

    From Phil, on Wed 1 Feb 22:20

  7. Lets be honest, it is sad to say but Spain at the­ moment cannot afford to host the under 13's­ scrabble championships let alone the Olympics. Clean­ up doping yes of course but bankrupt your country even­ more, that's just silly. Fingers crossed for­ Japan, that would be a blast.

    From Simon, on Wed 1 Feb 21:00

  8. Before I get crucified... I meant, last post, before­ CAS overturns the Spanish decision, on behalf of the­ UCI/WADA appeal... or maybe I still don't have it­ right. Can't keep track of the­ interested/aggrieved parties anymore... Whole thing has­ become a bit of a joke really.

    From scotbll, on Wed 1 Feb 10:36

  9. I might take this as a hint that UCI/WADA is going to­ overturn the Spanish ruling, and the Spaniards are­ rushing to wipe the egg off their face. Then again I­ might not... (No, I would. Contador will be­ suspended, for less than the maximum term.)

    From scotbll, on Wed 1 Feb 10:17

  10. @mikeg in all due respect you're a McQuaid.

    From Deerlabsky, on Wed 1 Feb 7:22

  11. I guess admitting that you are a 3rd World country and­ need to get into at least the 21st Century is a start.

    From mikeg, on Wed 1 Feb 5:08
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