Discussion on bill on prevention of doping in sport

BELGRADE - Members of the Serbian parliament concluded a principled debate on the draft law on the prevention of doping in sport, which will ensure that Serbian legislation is fully harmonized with international regulations in this respect and the new World Anti-Doping Code, which will come into force next year.

A total of 16 amendments will be discussed on October 15.

Serbian Minister of Sports Vanja Udovicic said commenting on the bill that its adoption will ensure unhindered participation of Serbian athletes at major international competitions.

Moreover, he noted that as of January 1, 2015 athletes coming from countries that have not brought their anti-doping regulations in line with the provisions of the World Code will not be able to partake in international competitions.

The draft law prohibits doping in sport, and sports organizations breaching these provisions may face sentences of six months to 12 years in prison or fines from 50,000 to one million dinars.

An athlete is due to allow anti-doping control, and the one who refuses, avoids or thwarts a doping test, will face sanctions for breaching anti-doping rules, as in the case of positive drug test.

In the period from January 2006 to November 2013, the Anti-Doping Agency of Serbia (ADAS) conducted a total of 4,347 doping controls, 1,577 of which at national competitions, and exposed 48 athletes whose tests were positive.

The greatest number of cases were in the fields of wrestling, bodybuilding and body fitness (six in each), then boxing and handball (both by five), and in most of the cases the athletes in question used anabolic steroids.

In the same period, 275 controls were carried out in horse sports and racing,...