Athletes in Austria caught doping could be charged with serious fraud and face prison terms of up to 10 years, according to an amendment to the national fraud act which is expected to take effect on January 1, 2010.
Under Austria's current anti-doping laws, possessing and selling banned substances are already a criminal offence, but not so the actual use of the drugs.
Austria sports minister Nobert Darabos and justice minister Claudia Bandion-Ortner on Monday announced the amendment, which awaits ratification by parliament later this year.