Russian Regime Backs Plan To Criminalise Doping But Wants No Match With Murder

The Russian Government wants to soften a proposed bill to criminalise doping that was introduced to the Russian State Duma (the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament) on March 25 and included a suggestion that causing the death of an athlete through doping should carry statutory status as murder, with a maximum jail term of 15 years.

In its official response to the proposed legislation this week, the Russian regime said that in general it agreed with the thrust of the plan but believed some measures to be too stringent.

One of the most significant objections cuts to the chase on just how serious Russia’s government considers doping in sport when it leads to the death of an athlete. The proposed bill suggests a maximum prison term of 15 years. However, the Government suggests that that would place the crime in the same category as murder, when manslaughter – which carries a maximum four-year penalty – would be more appropriate.

The Russian Government also criticises the fact that the liability of athletes themselves is not considered within the proposed bill.

In an article in the World Sports Law report, the monty journal covering sport regulation,  Valeriy Fedoreev, Partner at CMS, says: “In my view, the Russian Government has raised some valid arguments. While the idea of the bill does not raise any issues, from a purely legal standpoint the bill itself is still quite ‘raw’ and needs to be further reviewed and corrected.

“I absolutely agree with the Government’s comments that the sanctions for doping violations that cause the death of an athlete are too severe. Fifteen years in jail is the maximum punishment for intentional murder in …

continue reading in source www.swimvortex.com