Austria's cabinet on Wednesday stepped up anti-doping activities, passing passed a series of new measures in the aftermath of a series of allegations over the past weeks of Austrian involvement in illicit blood doping, according to dpa. Key points are to improve anti-doping regulations step-by-step and harmonizing them with international guidelines issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency WADA, Reinhold Lopatka, State Secretary for Sports said. The first phase of tightening rules is to kick off before summer, Lopatka said in a press release. "Blood and genetic doping will become a criminal offence, as will be the ownership of drugs and medical instruments that can be used for doping in sports," he said. From autumn onwards harmonization of Austrian rules with the new WADA code as well as measures for increased cooperation between authorities and affected institutions, such as sports associations will be accelerated. Austrian sports is still reeling from the after-effects of the doping scandal at the 2006 Turin winter Olympics that involved Austrian biathlon team. Last week, local media published a list of 30-odd Austrian and international athletes allegedly involved in doping activities. Both Germany's and Austria's ski federation expressed their intention of pursuing legal steps against the accusations. Earlier this year, allegations of conducting illicit blood doping were levelled against an Austrian blood bank. Austria was repeatedly criticised for its apparently lenient approach to doping. Contrary to other nations, doping is no criminal offence for athletes. Only those providing doping substances could be charged under Austrian drugs law. Local politicians still stress their support for athletes. Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Chancellor Gusenbauer suggested providing increased legal support to athletes who had to counter unjustified doping allegations. On the one hand Austria was "clearly" for fighting the "scourge of doping" Gusenbauer said, but athletes had to be protected against libel, which could also be a kind of "psychologic warfare" ahead of international competitions.
