World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president John Fahey has vowed to introduce measures to help catch the coaches, agents and physiotherapists who help drug cheats, The Independent newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Ten days after the athletics world was rocked by the news that former double world sprint champion Tyson Gay and former world 100 meters record holder Asafa Powell had failed doping tests, Fahey outlined WADA's proposed new and tougher code. "It's a much more effective code as it's one for the entourage as well - picking up the coaches, agents and physios," Fahey told The Independent. "It says they can be dealt with in the same fashion as an athlete."
The code, which will be presented in November and, if ratified, will come into effect in 2015, will also target athletes who have used coaches and advisors found guilty of doping in the past.
"These aren't registered people but what we're saying is that athletes who use that person will suffer the sanctions of an anti-doping violation," Fahey said.
"We can do that. Here I'm talking about the Victor Contes of this world, an admitted cheat that's done time. So it's increased penalties to include the entourage,’’ he added.