Radcliffe calls for tougher bans

World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe has called for nations guilty of institutionalised doping to be banned from participating in the World Championships.

Radcliffe also feels young athletes being forced to cheat is akin to ’physical and sexual abuse’ and believes that the suppliers of banned substances in sport should be handed prison sentences.

The former world champion said in The Times: “Everything we can do to increase the deterrent is good and where it is blatant or there is evidence that it may be institutionalised, or at the very least countries are turning a blind eye to it, you could ban that team from the World Championships for a year or two.

“There needs to be something so member federations are not aiding and abetting doping.”

She added: “If you look at it in the purest terms then it is fraud.

“The deception of the public watching and also of people competing cleanly is massive. That should not be underestimated.

“I also think there should be jail terms for suppliers. There are jail terms for the suppliers of recreational drugs, so why not for sports doping?”

Radcliffe’s comments come after the Turkish Athletics Federation this week announced it had suspended 31 track and field athletes for two years for drug offences.

Istanbul is one of the three cities competing to host the 2020 Olympics, along with Tokyo and Madrid.

The 39-year-old Radcliffe added in the Daily Mail “I don’t have a vote, but I wouldn’t be voting for Turkey. I’m not sure I would for Madrid either until they release the Operation Puerto bags.

“They should be cleaning the house before they can think about hosting the Olympics, because it’s a huge honour. There should be some way of sanctioning federations.

“You have to be careful the innocent athletes aren’t penalised as well, but I think when it is so blatant, and it is proven the country has been running a programme and pushing athletes, then they have to be punished. They are essentially abusing those athletes.

“There needs to be some sort of sanction imposed and something done about protecting the young athletes because I don’t believe they have a whole lot of choice.

“We really need to increase the level of sanctions, so the risks outweigh the benefits to potential cheats, and these have to extend to the entourage.

“In the case of young athletes, sometimes they are being abused, in the same way as physical abuse, or sexual abuse, if they are being forced to engage in drug abuse.’

“I think the fact the testing is coming in at a high level means there will be greater positive tests. It is making sure we concentrate on those federations who are producing more positive tests, and at junior level as well.”