MOSCOW, June 15. /TASS/. The State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, on Wednesday adopted in the first reading a bill on criminal responsibility for tempting athletes to use doping.
The initiative was proposed in March by United Russia ruling party and Liberal Democratic Party deputies.
"The tempting of an athlete by a coach, sports medicine specialist or another physical culture and sports specialist to use substances or methods banned for use in sports.. is punished by a fine of up to 500,000 rubles ($7,640) or to the tune of salary or other income of the convict for up to 6 months with the deprivation of the right to hold certain posts or engage in certain activity for up to three years or without such," the draft law says.
If the crime is committed by a group of persons in collusion against an underage athlete or two or more athletes, with the use of violence or threat of the use of violence, it is suggested to punish that with a fine of up to 1 million rubles ($15,280) or imprisonment of up to 1 year, and to deprive them of the right to hold certain posts or engage in certain activity for up to 3 years or without such deprivation.
Should the amendments be adopted, a coach, a doctor or other specialist in the sphere of physical culture and sports who gave an athlete without his consent banned substances will face a prison term of 3 to 5 years. Besides, the violator may be banned from holding certain posts or engage in certain activity for up to 7 years.
If the crimes entail, by negligence, the death of an athlete or other serious consequences, the guilty person will have to spend 10 to 15 years in prison.