WADA against jailing athletes

Article by AP

PARIS (AP) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) says it’s against the imposition of criminal sanctions on cheating athletes despite a tougher code that will come into effect on January 1.

At a meeting of its members today, WADA also announced that pledges for the creation of an anti-doping research fund reached more than US $10 million, matching the financial investment made by the International Olympic Committee. The joint project will therefore have a budget of about $20 million.

WADA President Craig Reedie says: “An athlete should be sanctioned under the sports rules which have been developed over many years, and he should not be sanctioned under criminal law.”

WADA said it is working to make sure the laboratory in Rio de Janeiro gets re-accredited for the 2016 Olympic Games.