Spain updates its anti-doping law to the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code

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1. The Government amends Organic Laworganic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes. 3/2013 to adapt it to the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code. The World Anti-Doping Agency had formally declared Spain in "non-compliance with the code" for not making this adaptation earlier.
2. Doping control samples can be stored and analyzed later, always within 10 years from collection. This allows old cases to be retested when new detection methods appear.
3. Sanctions are updated: very serious violations carry a license suspension of two to four years or even a lifetime ban, plus fines from €3,001 to €100,000 depending on the violation. Clubs, federations and medical staff can also be sanctioned.
4. Repeat violations are regulated: a second violation within 10 years increases the sanction, and a third can mean a lifetime ban, unless mitigating factors apply.
5. Anyone who provides substantial help to uncover violations or doping crimes can have their sanction suspended by up to three quarters. Mitigating factors such as admitting the violation are also recognized.
6. Sanctioning procedures must end within a maximum of 12 months; otherwise they expire. Decisions by the Spanish Health Protection Agency in Sport can be appealed to the Administrative Court for Sport within 30 days.
7. The program to prepare Spanish athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Games is declared an event of exceptional public interest. This allows tax benefits for its sponsors from 2017 to 2020.
8. The rule takes effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado). The Government will have six months to adapt the bylaws of the Higher Sports Council and the anti-doping agency.

Who it affects

• Licensed athletes: They must make sure no prohibited substance enters their body, submit to controls and follow location rules. Sanctions include license suspension, fines and loss of results and medals.
• Coaches, doctors and support staff: They cannot provide sports services to people sanctioned for doping and are liable for certain failures. Violations carry professional disqualification.
• Clubs, teams, professional leagues and federations: They can be fined up to €400,000 and lose points, standings or be relegated.
• Sponsors of the Olympic program: They can benefit from the tax incentives of the Tokyo 2020 preparation program.

Words worth knowing

Código Mundial Antidopaje (World Anti-Doping Code)

A set of binding rules drawn up by the World Anti-Doping Agency that sets common anti-doping standards in sport.

Autorización de uso terapéutico (therapeutic use exemption)

A permit allowing an athlete to use a prohibited substance or method for genuine health reasons, granted by a specialized committee.

Licencia federativa (federation license)

An authorization issued by a sports federation needed to officially compete in that sport.

Real decreto-ley (royal decree-law)

A rule with the force of law that the Government can pass on urgent grounds, without first going through Parliament.

Pasaporte biológico (biological passport)

A record of an athlete's biological parameters over time, used to detect suspicious changes suggesting doping.

organic law

A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries