Germany gets tough on doping: Introduces Jail Time for Offenses

By Michael Doyle

Germany might join France in adopting jail sentences and financial penalties for sports cheats. Lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday in Berlin that would see athletes, coaches and managers facing jail time and hefty fines for doping offenses. German Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière and Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection Heiko Maas wrote the draft bill.

If the bill becomes a law, athletes caught doping or with doping products would be sentenced to one to three years in prison. Drug providers, coaches and managers would be tried for endangering the health of athletes and serve up to ten years behind bars.

German parliament, or Bundestag, will have to approve the bill; if it does, the law is expected to be in effect by spring 2015.