NZ sports players found doping from New Year face new punishments under tightened rules

New punishments await New Zealand players who are found doping from New Year, as the country has agreed to changes that include longer bans and new rules in order to keep their anti-doping rules in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency's updated code for 2015.

The key changes to the doping rules include longer bans of up to four years for a first offence for those who dope intentionally, penalties for athletes who associate with anyone who has previously committed a doping offence, sanctions for those who help cover-up doping and an extension of the anti-doping rules to cover support personnel, such as coaches.

Graeme Steel, chief executive of Crown entity Drug Free Sport New Zealand, welcomed the rules and regulations tightening, saying that these new rules are powerful and far-reaching and would ensure that those who set out to cheat are removed from participating in sport for longer periods, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Steel said that New Zealand has a proud tradition of clean sport and Drug Free Sport NZ works hard to ensure that tradition is maintained and continued. He added that they believe these new rules are a significant step forward in the fight against doping in sport.

Steel also said that the introduction of longer bans sends a clear message to athletes that intentional doping would not be tolerated, adding that bans of this length could effectively end an athlete's sporting career so they take a huge risk if they choose to dope.

Steel also said that those who support athletes would also need to be aware of the rule changes because they are now bound more clearly by the anti-doping rules and can face penalties if they break those rules.

Steel further said that it's vital that everyone involved in sport is committed to being drug free and this includes those supporting athletes like coaches, trainers and physiotherapists, adding that there's no level playing field if they don't have everyone on board and following the rules.