Anti-Doping Law

On December 10^th, 2015, the Anti-Doping Act (AntiDopG) came into force in Germany. This is a national criminal law.

The Anti-Doping Law (German)

The publication of the Anti-Doping Law in the Federal Law Gazette in German language can be found at the following link:

To the Anti-Doping Law (German)

Objectives of the law are:

Combating the use of doping substances and doping methods in sport
Protecting the health of athletes
Ensuring fairness and equal opportunities in sports competitions
Maintaining the integrity of the sport

The Anti-Doping Act introduces new criminal offenses and strengthens cooperation between sport and the state in the prosecution of anti-doping rule violations. The new law also makes self-doping a punishable offence. This is the first time that competitive athletes who use doping to gain advantages in organized sport are recorded. This applies both to test pool athletes and to athletes who generate significant income from their sport. The acquisition and possession of small quantities of doping substances for the purpose of self-doping is also punishable. It also tightens the regulations for people in the background. The AntiDopG helps law enforcement agencies break up doping networks. The data exchange between NADA Germany, the courts and public prosecutor's offices is regulated by law for the first time.

Anti-Doping Act Amendment

The Anti-Doping Law has been evaluated since 2019. A hearing in the sports committee of the German Bundestag took place on October 23^rd, 2019. NADA Germany's statement on the need for amendments and supplements to the Anti-Doping Act, in particular with regard to the extension by a so-called leniency programme, can be found on the BMJV's website (www.bmjv.de).

To the Law to change the Anti-Doping Law

Evaluation Report of the Federal Government

In November 2020, the Federal Ministries of Justice and Consumer Protection, the Interior and Community, and Health prepared an evaluation report on the effects of the provisions contained in the Anti-Doping Act based on a study by Prof. Dr. Elisa Hoven and Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Kubiciel prepared an evaluation report on the effects of the criminal law and criminal procedure provisions contained in the Anti-Doping Act.

To the evaluation report (only in german)

History

The act was drawn up by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Ministry of Health. A first draft was presented on November 12^th, 2014. Various institutions, including NADA Germany, had the opportunity to submit a statement on the draft. NADA Germany studied the text of the act in detail and commented in particular on the sections that directly affect NADA Germany's work. You can view NADA Germany's statement of February 20^th, 2015 here.

After receiving the various opinions, the act was discussed in the relevant committees. On November 27^th, 2015, the Bundesrat approved the anti-doping act passed by the Bundestag. The act came into force on December 18^th, 2015 when it was published in the Federal Law Gazette.

The wording of the AntiDopG was last amended on July 3^rd, 2020 and August 12^th, 2021. For the first time, the act contains the so-called court witness regulation, which was also introduced by NADA Germany in the evaluation process.