Current regulatory provisions in anti-doping legislation

The Authors examine the contents of the most recent regulatory proposals in the field of health protection in sports activities and in relation to the spread of pharmacological and exogenous practices not corresponding to therapeutic ends. From the draft laws examined, there emerges in particular, the need for a redefinition of the concept of 'doping' which apart from the indications and lists issued by the competent national and international organisations, can be defined as the administration of medicines or the use of therapeutic practices not justified by documented pathological conditions and practised in the sole aim of improving competitive performance. An innovation compared with the past lies in the view of doping as a crime against health and biological integrity, as the result of intake of natural or synthetic substances, as well as of the practice of treatments, psychological included, that could determine modifications to the psychophysical efficiency of the athlete, for which penalties are envisaged, not only in sports regulations, but also in criminal law. In any event it seems necessary to have unity of intent and effective cooperation between legislator, CONI and the national sports Federations in order to implement an effective strategy to combat the spread of any practice that might in some way disturb the traditional concepts of propriety and fair play in sporting performance.