MADRID (AP) — Spain’s government has approved a tougher anti-doping law designed to come in line with the standards of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Friday that the bill, which must be approved by Parliament, will create a new anti-doping agency with greater powers than the current one.
The new law coincides with Madrid’s bid for the 2020 Olympics. The IOC evaluation commission will visit Madrid on March 18-21. Madrid is competing against Tokyo and Istanbul.
Spain’s first anti-doping law was passed in 2006. The previous lack of doping legislation has hampered police investigations like Operation Puerto, the blood-doping case currently under trial in Madrid.
