Anti-Doping bill passed in Senate

LEGISLATION to introduce anti-doping rules in the sport fraternity was passed unanimously in the Senate on Tuesday night with amendments. As a result, the Anti-Doping in Sport Bill 2013 will have to return to the House of Representatives where the amendments will have to be approved.

Clause 19 of the bill was amended to give an athlete a right to be informed not only of a drug test result, but of the fact that result – if adverse – has been referred to a disciplinary panel.

Clause 23 was amended to give the anti-doping agency set up by the bill the right to have a say on whether funding for any sport organisation can be withheld, not just the minister.

Clause 28 was amended to increase the qualifications of the persons on the disciplinary panel to including at least seven-years experience, up from five. The bill was passed unanimously.

The sitting was adjourned at 11.45 pm. The Senate was not adjourned to next Tuesday, but rather to a date to be fixed in light of a no-confidence motion which is due to be debated on Monday and which could, possibly, spill over to Tuesday.

Newsday