London, Nov 05: The detection of a new designer steroid in the United States could lead track and field's world governing body to bring back four-year bans for drug cheats. The International Association of Athletics Federations said yesterday it may consider doubling its two-year penalty for athletes testing positive for steroids or other serious banned substances.
"Everybody in a responsible position is looking for a way to root out all of this," IAAF General Secretary Istvan Gyulai told reporters. "Obviously, one very logical approach would be to look at what happens if the sanction is more severe."
The IAAF reduced it penalty for steroid offenses from four years to two in 1997 after courts in several countries refused to uphold the longer ban.
"I'm not sure it is easier now to enforce it," Gyulai said.
Current rules call for a "minimum" two-year suspension, but few countries opt for a stiffer penalty.
The push for tougher sanctions follows the unmasking of the designer steroid THG, or Tetrahydrogestrinone, and a spate of positive tests for the stimulant Modafinil.
Gyulai said the IAAF is also considering ways of punishing any coaches, trainers, doctors and agents implicated in the doping cases.
Bureau Report