It may be a drop in the ocean that the World Anti-Doping Agency decided at its four-day retreat in Johannesburg. The fact is, however, that a new code will take effect from January 1, 2015, which will take convicted doping offenders out of the race for four years. Increasing the suspension to a full Olympic cycle is intended to act as a deterrent to athletes and their coaches.
The statute of limitations for doping offenses was also increased. While this has been eight years so far, it will be ten in the future. In contrast, however, the period for three missed checks, which would also result in a ban, has been reduced to one year. Regardless of the athletes, coaches should also be punished more severely in the future.
'Increasing the different lockdown periods is tough, but it's fair', commented John Fahey on one of his last official acts as President of WADA. He also underlined that the new Code is being worked out “Human rights and proportionality issues” have taken into account. Nevertheless, some institutions have doubts about the implementation or enforceability of the new blocks. In Germany, the national anti-doping agency NADA and the Federal Ministry of the Interior are skeptical about this.
In addition to the adoption of the new code, Johannesburg was also the scene of other events. As of today, Scot Craig Reedie is the new WADA President. The vice president of the International Olympic Committee has been a member of the WADA board for several years and was the sole nominee for the post.
Together with the UCI, WADA decided to set up an expert commission to investigate the history of doping in cycling. This should help to clarify the Armstrong case and uncover the involvement of the two ex-UCI Presidents Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid in this case.