New laws on drugs possible for London 2012

Drugs in sport could be criminalised ahead of the London 2012 Olympics, organisers have confirmed.

Paul Deighton, chief executive of the London 2012 organising committee, told the International Olympic Committee that talks were taking place about possible law changes.

New legislation brought into force in Italy ahead of the Turin Winter Olympics criminalised all drug users.

Deighton said: “We are working on a new UK anti-doping agency and legislation is certainly a possibility.

“That is something we are currently discussing with our Home Office, that is something that could be evolving in the next couple of years.

“There are discussions between UK Sport, which is changing its anti-doping role, the Home Office and the police about how this might be taken forward, and legislation is one of the areas that might be looked at.

“We have had police travelling to [IOC headquarters] Lausanne in an expertise-sharing capacity, and talking to the IOC about the lessons that can be learnt from Turin.”