A four year ban instead of a two year one and a ten year limitation period instead of an eight year one. NADA's regulations are now stricter. Dr. Rainer Koch, Vice-President of the DFB, explains its impact on football in an interview with DFB.de.
DFB.de: Dr. Koch, the penalties for doping have been increased. What should cheaters expect to get in the future?
Dr. Rainer Koch: Four-year sentences will be given to deliberate first offenders when the assessment of the sentence, along with the substances, are relevant. The increasing of the ban is only one of several changes. The DFB will put into practice what the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) have passed. Furthermore, the limitation period has been extended from eight to ten years and two new elements of offense have been introduced.
DFB.de: What is the so-called ‘restraining order’?
Koch: It is to immediately stop those already banned from coming into professional contact with doctors who have themselves committed a violation against the Anti-Doping regulations. Assisted doping will also be punished. We will now, whenever possible, take action against any type of doping. You have to be realistic but overall it is a good development.
DFB.de: The German national team’s players will breathe a sigh of relief that they live the opposite kind of life.
Koch: From now on, three reported violations within 12 months will lead to disciplinary action for top athletes worldwide. Previously, the time period was 18 months. WADA’s reduction in the time period is evidently in light of reducing the risk of inadvertent violations. A German national player must give his exact whereabouts at each quarter of the day and he can do that online by using the ADAMS-System. If the NADA examiner rings and the player is not in the specified location, then he has committed a reported violation. He then gets a so-called ‘strike’. Three strikes results in a ban of between one and two years. I am happy that WADA are being less strict in this situation, as, after all, this procedure leads to a considerable restriction of personal freedom.
DFB.de: The new rules will take effect immediately and the DFB have to decide what changes to make concerning the game as well as regarding the legal system and code of procedure by way of circulation of the board. Why the rush?
A four year ban instead of a two year one and a ten year limitation period instead of an eight year one. NADA's regulations are now stricter. Dr. Rainer Koch, Vice-President of the DFB, explains its impact on football in an interview with DFB.de.
DFB.de: Dr. Koch, the penalties for doping have been increased. What should cheaters expect to get in the future?
Dr. Rainer Koch: Four-year sentences will be given to deliberate first offenders when the assessment of the sentence, along with the substances, are relevant. The increasing of the ban is only one of several changes. The DFB will put into practice what the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) have passed. Furthermore, the limitation period has been extended from eight to ten years and two new elements of offense have been introduced.
DFB.de: What is the so-called ‘restraining order’?
Koch: It is to immediately stop those already banned from coming into professional contact with doctors who have themselves committed a violation against the Anti-Doping regulations. Assisted doping will also be punished. We will now, whenever possible, take action against any type of doping. You have to be realistic but overall it is a good development.
DFB.de: The German national team’s players will breathe a sigh of relief that they live the opposite kind of life.
Koch: From now on, three reported violations within 12 months will lead to disciplinary action for top athletes worldwide. Previously, the time period was 18 months. WADA’s reduction in the time period is evidently in light of reducing the risk of inadvertent violations. A German national player must give his exact whereabouts at each quarter of the day and he can do that online by using the ADAMS-System. If the NADA examiner rings and the player is not in the specified location, then he has committed a reported violation. He then gets a so-called ‘strike’. Three strikes results in a ban of between one and two years. I am happy that WADA are being less strict in this situation, as, after all, this procedure leads to a considerable restriction of personal freedom.
DFB.de: The new rules will take effect immediately and the DFB have to decide what changes to make concerning the game as well as regarding the legal system and code of procedure by way of circulation of the board. Why the rush?
Koch: WADA and NADA have decided on not having a transitional period. The DFB is obliged to implement the international standards in this country that are applicable to the Anti-Doping rules. The amended DFB provisions must be put into place before the start of the second half of the season in the licensed leagues and in the third division.
DFB.de: Other sporting federations will have structural problems if they try to implement such changes so quickly.
Koch: Yes, but football is always under close scrutiny. We did not want to face the allegation that there would be a less harsh punishment for a doper just because you had to wait until the next meeting for approval.
DFB.de: Does a four year ban in football not practically mean the end of a career?
Koch: The WADA’s tightening of rules does not only apply to football but also to the entire sporting world. A four year ban is certainly a serious period out of the game. On the other hand, it is about maintaining the integrity of sporting competition. That is a valuable asset. Football is in the fortunate position that there are very few people that have had positive tests. Precisely for this reason, we advocate drastic sanctions against doping athletes by sporting federations. And an athlete will only actually be banned for four years if an intentional violation can be detected. In addition to that, the new Anti-Doping rules also provide various mitigations of punishment in favour of the athlete.
DFB.de: Do the new state of affairs regarding financial aid and a ban on contact allow access to a doping player’s environment?
Koch: Yes, because if I can penalize the financial aid, the access will be expanded. NADA and WADA expect an improvement in the Anti-Doping battle. We want to do the same thing.
DFB.de: Are the current order changes connected to the federal government’s planned Anti-Doping law?
Koch: No, not at all. We are abided by the standards of WADA and NADA. However, it is in close contextual proximity to the new Anti-Doping law led by the Federal Minister Thomas de Maizière and Heiko Maas, as the struggle against the power of manipulation is conducted jointly by politics and sport.
DFB.de: In view of the drug testing, how have other European countries done in comparisson?
Koch: Compared to other European countries, the DFB is far ahead of other major footballing nations when it comes to the number of drug tests, with one exception. In the 2013/2014 season, 2200 doping tests were conducted, 1700 of which were done by the DFB on match days and the other 500 were done by NADA in out-of-competition tests. The Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, 3. Liga, the women’s Bundesliga, the junior Bundesliga as well as the DFB Cup are controlled. In the five seasons since the 2012/2013 season, the DFB have also been conducting drug tests in Germany’s regional leagues. Footballers playing in Germany are therefore on average two times more likely to undergo a drug test than their counterparts in England, Spain or France. Only in Italy is it monitored more frequently and that has more to do with the fact that football is connected to the Olympic Sports Federation there. Footballers in Germany are tested more often than sportsmen are in athletics or cycling. The number of tests conducted when compared to other team sports is even greater. This way, our players can prove time and time again that they can put in great performances when they are clean, even if you sometimes wish that the unannounced test would not come for the players at six o’clock in the morning.
DFB.de: In the summer, will there be a change in the powers regarding tests done in competitions?
Koch: Our negotiations with NADA regarding the previously DFB performed drug tests during competitions are on the right track and we assume that these checks can be performed NADA at the beginning of the 2015/16 season. It is important that the high level of tests conducted in competitions remains (the DFB only use licensed doctors) even after it is acquired by NADA.
