Down on Doping

DW-WORLD.DE: Mr. Danckert, what is your reaction to the most recent doping confessions from Telekom cyclists?

Peter Danckert: The additional confessions didn't come as a surprise to me. For quite some time I've been aware that doping is widespread, not only in Germany but also in the international cycling scene. I expect more to come in the next few days and months. I also think that the confessions are not going to stop at the German border.

What are the biggest challenges in the fight against doping?

We are dealing with widespread doping in cycling and other Olympic sports that are less in the public eye at the moment. We are working with deficient analysis systems and the testing labs are lagging behind and trying very painstakingly, despite a lack of financial resources, to track down what the economy and the pharmaceutical industry have put on the market.

It's becoming more and more apparent to me, when I make an appeal for amnesty-like regulations, that there are large groups within the organized sport scene that don't even want this, for reasons that I don't understand.

There is a considerable lack of information concerning the extent of doping, the structures, and the participation of doctors, managers, trainers and possibly even sponsors. The very first goal must be to gather a picture of the situation that is as comprehensive as possible.

For me, sanctions are the second priority. I can't expect active athletes to commit social or professional suicide by handing in a confession -- and I can't offer them anything for it either. They need a second chance and they can only get one if they have the opportunity to explain themselves openly without having to fear sanctions.

Some sports organizations, such as the German Olympic Sport Association (DOSB), have said that sanctions are more effective than legal penalties. Why are sanctions less important for you?

There have to be effective legal measure in place, on the one hand. We'll have them when the law that is now on the table is passed in the beginning of July, because then the possession of moderate amounts of doping substances will be punishable by law, which gives the authorities a new and more effective approach.

On the other hand, we need understanding on the part of the sports organization. They have to recognize that their entire sanction system has not been particularly effective. They've continually had cases where the doping test results were positive only by coincidence. And since the tests aren't very effective, the fact that there are relatively few positive tests isn't proof that doping doesn't happen but that the doping investigation methods aren't effective.

Are you satisfied with the new anti-doping law that is set to be passed in Germany in early July?

To be honest, it doesn't totally fulfil my expectations. I would have wanted more extensive provisions. But that's politics. When you have a coalition partner, you have to discuss with the partner and reach a solution. As the old saying goes, "Politics is the art of the doable."

We have a law underway that I believe will offer additional investigation approaches in the future. The Federal Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BKA) will take responsibility, the range of punishment will become broader, telephone surveillance may become possible, and maybe a leniency program as well.

If the sport scene does its part as well, then the chances are good that the situation will improve.

What can the sport scene do? And how can the sport scene and the government work together?

It's my hope that, after the statements from four professional cyclists and two doctors in the past few days, the sport world has recognized that these are not isolated cases but that mass doping is now the order of the day.

These are not isolated cases, even looking beyond Germany's borders. I was in Rome recently and spoke with recognized doping experts who said that it's also widespread in Italy, not only in cycling but in other Olympic sports as well.

There are considerable deficits in many areas that can only be corrected with the help of the sport world. For example, we have to convince the sponsors to contribute one percent of their sponsoring funds -- which in Germany alone amount to 2.6 billion euros ($3.5 billion) -- to the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) so that more can be done for prevention, training checks, competition checks and doping analysis.

That's where the sport world can get involved -- but they have to want to.

In many cases, it's not just the athletes themselves who are involved in a doping case, but also trainers, managers and even doctors. To what extent should these people also be subject to penalties?

A lot has been achieved through the amendment to the pharmaceutical laws, which defines the legal penalties that deal with doping. It used to be the case that only the sale of illegal substances was punishable. Now, when the law is passed in early July, the possession of moderate amounts of illegal substances will also be punishable. For the police, the prosecutors and later for the courts, this is an additional and very effective way to fight doping.

It's not only the athlete that is involved but also the trainers, the managers, the doctors and everyone surrounding the athlete that has been legally untouchable until now. This will be different in the future and, with the Federal Bureau of Criminal Investigation, we have a very effective authority to take care of the job.

Peter Danckert is the chairman of the sport committee in the German parliament and a member of the Social Democratic Party.