Reuters reports Spain’s cabinet has approved changes to the country’s anti-doping rules hoping to address concerns expressed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in assessing Madrid’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Economy Minister Elena Salgado said Friday the planned revision to the rules “was in response to the concerns expressed by the IOC”.
The changes, once approved by parliament, say that athletes could be tested outside competition from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. and during competition 12 hours before an event starts and until it is finished.
Salgado said at a press conference, “we believe we have very adequate doping legislation which has been pioneering up to now but the IOC made some specific recommendations. With this initiative, adopted in a very short time, the government wants to support Madrid 2016’s bid so that it can go to Copenhagen with the backing of all international organizations in the fight against doping”.
