Dope: Offenders to be banned from Olympics

IOC says new rules would make it impossible for doping offenders caught at the Beijing Olympics to participate in future games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said that new rules would make it impossible for doping offenders caught at the Beijing Olympics to participate in future games.

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Under rules ratified during an IOC executive board meeting in Athens, athletes who are sanctioned for six months or more for a doping offence will be banned from taking part in the next Olympics.

The rule will go into effect July 1 and will apply to all doping offenders caught during the Aug 8-24 Beijing games.

The ban would apply to all major doping offences, including steroid use, which normally carries a two-year suspension for first time offenders.