UK to Reduce Recreational Drug Penalties for Athletes

United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) is imposing shorter bans for athletes who fail out-of-competition drug tests for non-performance enhancing drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, saying it was to put an “emphasis on athlete welfare,” the BBC reports.

The details of the new policy are still being finalized but further penalty reduction would be available for athletes who complete a treatment program and promptly admit to their violation.

The new rules, which take effect in January, also allow for longer bans when there are “aggravating factors,” such as lying to investigators, hostility toward doping control officers, and when there are multiple violations.