Date:06/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/06/stories/2008060661232100.htm

Sport - Sports : General

IOC ratifies new doping rule

ATHENS: The IOC, on Thursday, ratified a new rule to keep convicted doping cheats out of future Olympics.

Under the regulation, athletes will be banned from the following Olympic Games if they have received a drug suspension of at least six months in the previous four-year period.

The rule would cover athletes caught using steroids, EPO and other serious performance-enhancers.

The rule comes into effect on July 1 and will be first applied for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, followed by the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The ban is not retroactive and does not affect eligibility for the Beijing Olympics in August this year. — AP