The Act on Combating Doping in Sport (“Anti-Doping Act”) is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The purpose of the Act is to prevent the use of doping substances and methods in sport, to protect the health of athletes, and to ensure fairness and equal opportunities in sporting competitions.
“Over the past ten years, the Anti-Doping Act has made a decisive contribution to strengthening the protection of clean athletes. Close and trusting cooperation with the investigative authorities has been a key factor in its success,” said Dr. Lars Mortsiefer, CEO of NADA Germany.
Since it came into force, the law has contributed to the integrity of sporting competition by making the possession, use, and trade of prohibited substances a criminal offense. It enables the targeted prosecution of athletes who use doping and the criminal structures behind them. The exchange of data between NADA Germany, the courts, and public prosecutors has been regulated by law for the first time and provides targeted support for anti-doping work.
On November 27, 2015, the Federal Council approved the Anti-Doping Act passed by the Bundestag. The Act came into force on December 18, 2015, upon its publication in the Federal Law Gazette.
Following an evaluation in 2021, a “leniency program” was included in the Act, among other things.