A Russian senator proposed that the athletes and coaches that were involved in the doping scandal resulting to the track and field contestants from the country being banned from the upcoming Olympics should face jail time. This comes after the Russian sports minister penned an article apologizing in behalf of those involved.
RT reported that the senator representing St. Petersburg, the second largest city of Russia, has proposed amending the criminal code to include articles on criminal responsibility for those involved in the doping scandal. This comes after it was found out that some Russian athletes and coaches were found out to be using banned substances designed to enhance the performance of athletes. Accordingly, the Russian government even supplied the athletes with the substances.
The senator, Vadim Tyulpanov, suggested in a draft law that the officials responsible for monitoring the anti-doping rules in sports could face up to 200,000 rubles in fines and up to one year of correction labor or one year of limited personal freedom. This is due to the fact that they violated the rules on the sale or transportation of any drugs that contain substances banned for use in the field of sports.
As for the coaches, medics, or specialists who worked with the involved athletes could face harsher punishment for coercing them to use the banned substances. They could face fines up to 500,000 rubles as well as up to five years behind bars. Other reports are claiming that Russian athletes used other people's urine in order to pass drug tests in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Los Angeles Times reported.
Tyulpanov said that passing the new anti-doping motion could preserve the health of the athletes and observe the moral norms accepted in sports. He also noted that this could boost the prestige of Russian athletes on the international scene, Inside The Games reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the situation and held Russia's Ministry of Sport liable for the issue. Putin called on the government ministers to cooperate with the ministry of sport and the International Olympic Committee in order to avoid incidents such as this to be repeated.
The International Association of Athletics Federations will be making a decision by June 17 whether or not the Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in the August Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro.
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