The latest from the U.S.: their lawmakers are moving toward criminalising international doping, but plan on exempting their own domestic sports from the ban.
The bill is entitled the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act (taking its name from Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistleblower on Russia's state-sponsored doping programme that rose to international prominence in the Netflix documentary, Icarus) and attaches prison time to the use, manufacturing or distribution of performance-enhancing drugs in global competitions.
Under the Act, the U.S. would have jurisdiction over any international competition which features at least three participating nations along with either at least four American athletes participating or two American companies acting as sponsors. These competitions would not have to be taking place in America. Proposed penalties for offenders would include a prison term of up to five years as well as fines that could stretch to $250,000 for individuals and $1 million for organizations.
Germany, France, Italy, Kenya and Spain are among the countries to make doping within their borders illegal, but the putative American bill goes much further.
The sponsors of the bill justified such a reach by citing the American financial contribution to WADA which, at $2.3 million every year, is more substantial than any other contribution.
In spite of the extent of this bill, it does not apply to domestic American leagues like Major League Baseball and the NFL.
[NY Times]
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