11. 11. 09. - 12:00
Harsher penalties for doping athletes on tap
By William Green
The
governing coalition parties, the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the
People’s Party (ÖVP), have agreed on the need for criminal prosecution
of athletes who take drugs.
SPÖ Sports Minister Norbert Darabos
announced yesterday (Tues) the two parties had agreed on the need to
amend paragraph 147 (serious fraud) of the Austrian criminal code in
cooperation with the justice ministry to have it apply to such athletes.
He
said: "Doping offenders create for themselves an illegal advantage in
terms not only of competition but also in terms of financial
compensation. Doping is not a petty crime. What is presently anchored
in the criminal code in that regard must be changed."
Parliament’s
anti-doping sub-committee and its sports committee were to take up the
issue at meetings this afternoon. It is unclear when the amendment will
be passed, but Darabos reportedly wants that done by 1 January 2010.
