January 12 – UEFA has issued new anti-doping regulations including greater flexibility in the sanctioning process for violations and new provisions to protect whistle-blowers, the European governing body announced on Tuesday.
The amendments and updates to UEFA’s doping rules entered into force at the start of of 2021 and reflect the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code (WADC).
The definition of ‘substance of abuse’ will now permit a great flexibility as far as sanctions are concerned and the term ‘aggravating circumstances’ has been introduced to cover ‘special or exceptional circumstances for which an additional period of ineligibility of up to two years can be imposed.’
Whistle-blowers have also been granted greater protection by the new rules, with “discouraging someone from reporting information, or to retaliate against an individual for sharing information” leading to a potential life-time ban.
The rules also reflect WADA’s 2021 list of prohibited substances and methods.
In a circular UEFA wrote that the aim of the new rules is “for all footballers to benefit from the same anti-doping procedures and protections, no matter their nationality, the country where tested or the competition they are involved in, so that all players may participate in competition that is both safe and fair.”
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