February 26, 2007 (Madrid, Spain) – As of Friday, Spain’s new anti-doping law came into effect. The Spanish sports minister, Jaime Lissavetzky told the daily AS on Friday that this new law targets suppliers, not athletes reports Reuters. “The new law is to protect athletes.No athletes will go to jail for doping.”

Lissavetzky also claims that the number of doping cases has been falling over the past 18 months, indicating that the new anti-doping law is having a dissuasive effect. Penalties under the new law include heavy fines, up to two years behind bars, and possible revoking of medical licenses. A revamped, more powerful Spanish Anti-doping Agency is also to be created within the new law.

Spain is where the Operacion Puerto investigation is unfolding after police raided Dr Eufemiano Fuentes’ Madrid medical clinic in 2006. Allegedly, top athletes – including cyclists – were coming to Spain from all over Europe for “treatment.”