Berlin, Nov 24: Stepping up the fight against performance-enhancing drugs, the governing body of track and field plans to punish coaches and others involved with athletes caught doping, including minimum bans of two years, IAAF President Lamine Diack said here. The new rules are expected to go into force on March 1. "We are now well equipped to deal not only with the athletes who cheat but with all those surrounding them who are also guilty," Diack told reporters yesterday at the end of a two-day meeting of the IAAF's policy-making council. The rules reflect the code of Wada, the world anti-doping agency, which has been accepted by IAAF, the international association of athletics federations.

Coaches, doctors and other officials involved with an athlete who flunks a drug test will be suspended for a minimum of two years, with possibility of lifetime bans, "depending on the gravity of the case," Diack said.

Similar rules apply to athletes. Lifetime bans are possible for repeat offenders.


Diack said track and field officials will keep the "exceptional circumstances" provision that allows shorter bans in some rare cases. Bureau Report