Paula Radcliffe welcomes stricter penalties for marathon drugs cheats

• Athletes could now be forced to repay prize money
• 'This is a positive and strong move,' says Radcliffe
  • The Guardian,
Paula Radcliffe has welcomed the decision of WMM to introduce stricter anti-doping penalties
Paula Radcliffe has welcomed the decision of World Marathon Majors to introduce stricter anti-doping penalties. Photograph: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Paula Radcliffe has welcomed the decision of World Marathon Majors (WMM) to revise their athlete contracts to include stricter anti-doping penalties. The organisers of the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York marathons have changed their contracts to include the right to suspend payment and demand repayment of prize money, appearances fees and performance bonuses from athletes found guilty of doping offences.

"This is a great initiative and a very positive and strong move by the World Marathon Majors, which is once again leading the field by example," Radcliffe said. "I would love to see all major events follow its lead. The cheats need to understand that they are not welcome in our sport and will be caught and made to pay."

The new provisions in WMM elite athlete contracts will include the following:

::: The athlete acknowledges that his/her right to receive payment is conditional upon remaining fully compliant with all applicable anti-doping rules

::: If the athlete is found - before, during or after the term of the agreement- to have committed a criminal offence involving drugs, or an anti-doping rule violation, or if for any other reason the athlete's result in the marathon is later nullified by a relevant governing body, then the marathon organiser will have the following rights:

::: The right to reduce or suspend payments due to the athlete, or to terminate the agreement with immediate effect

::: The right to repayment from athlete of all or part of the money paid to the athlete under the agreement.

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