Sports Minister Strache: Doping is a serious offence, the attack of the strictest belonging to the Anti-Doping law.

Vienna (OTS) – The national investigative authorities have done a very good job, an international doping ring to uncover. Also the NADA-Austria has participated in the framework of the statutory possibilities supportive. This shows that the Anti-Doping work in Austria, works very well. The Austrian anti-doping Federal act, which came into force in 2007 and in 2010, was tightened, one of the world’s most stringent and is an excellent basis for an honest and fair Competition.

In Austria Doping is not a trivial offence. The § 147 of the criminal code qualifies Doping in Sport as a sports fraud – up to three years in prison, in the case of heavy fraud and up to 10 years. The section 22a of the Anti-Doping Federal act aims mainly at those behind the doping and punished the possession (over a certain threshold quantity), the trade or transfer of Doping with up to 5 years in prison.

Minister of sport, Heinz-Christian Strache and the NADA-Austria managing Director Michael Cepic agree: Many countries have no laws and are not able to detect such fraudulent activity. Work is needed in the future.

Minister of sport, Heinz-Christian Strache: „I do protest against the General suspicion, which is currently against our sportsmen and women. For a Flat rate of suspicions and rumors, I am not available. I’m interested in the enlightenment, but I will wait for the results of this investigation, the marriage will have to be initiated must be checked whether additional measures. For me, Doping in Sport has no place, therefore, the Ministry of sport supports the NADA-Austria year with 2.4 million euros in the protection of the honest and fair athletes.“

NADA-Austria managing Director Michael Cepic: „The recent case shows that fraud will be caught sooner or later and the path of the Austrian Anti-Doping work must be continued both in the repressive as well as in the preventive area. In order to protect the clean athletes in the best possible way, there is a need for common effort by all involved with the Sport people and organizations.“