Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the World Anti-Doping Agency on the length of bans imposed on athletes who test positive for performance-enhancing stimulants with regard to their congruence with the new sanctions recently endorsed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the International Association of Athletics Federations and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The Government did not make any representations to the World Anti-Doping Agency on the length of bans imposed on athletes who test positive for performance-enhancing stimulants, but endorsed and supported those made by UK Anti-Doping, the UK’s National Anti-Doping Organisation, throughout the consultation process. The Government remains committed to playing a full and active part in the global fight against doping in sport and welcomes the new World Anti-Doping Code, coming into force on 1 January 2015, being tougher on those who cheat. The new Code implements a stringent sanctioning regime in respect of intentional doping, which will now result in a four year ban from all sport.