NEW DELHI: The Chinese government is all set to pass a law in the near future that will make doping a criminal offence, and athletes found to have broken the law will receive criminal punishments and jail terms, the state-run news agency Xinhua reports.
This also asserts China’s stance on the issue, having also decided to strip off athletes from medals won at international events if they are found guilty of doping.
“We are nearing the end of our study and research into a judicial interpretation on anti-doping. It will be promulgated in 2019, probably in early 2019. Those guilty of doping will face criminal punishments,” China’s General Administration of Sport director Gou Zhongwen was quoted as saying at a national sports meeting on Friday.
It is believed that the use of performance-enhancing drugs had been found in several tests of samples from students applying to sports schools.
“It is our will to show the world we are really serious about anti-doping, and are taking concrete measures on fight against doping,” Gou added.
China’s Supreme Court also vowed to fight hard against the menace.
“We are studying and drawing up judicial interpretations on the application of law in handling criminal cases related to the use, manufacturing, sale and smuggling of performance-enhancing substances,” China’s Supreme Court judge Jiang Qibo announced at the second edition of the WADA Global Education Conference in October 2018 that the research and law-drafting process is in its crucial final stage.
“With China strengthening the rule of law and anti-doping being included in the process, we, as China’s highest judicial organ, feel obliged to do our part in cracking down on doping,” Jiang signed off.
