MADRID (AP) — Spain’s government approved an anti-doping law that it says brings the country’s drug code in line with World Anti-Doping Agency requirements.
Spain first passed anti-doping legislation in 2006 but was forced to update it following the release of WADA’s new code in 2009.
The country’s sports ministry says the new legislation imposes an eight-year ban on the athlete if a drug test returns positive.
It also prohibits any surprise testing between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless there are exceptional circumstances. If an athlete misses three tests over 18 months, they receive a three-month ban.
Spain also needed to pass the legislation because Madrid is bidding for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
