MOSCOW, November 22 (RAPSI) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill introducing criminal punishment for doping offenses into law.

The document has been posted on the government’s legal information website.

Under the law, coaches, doctors in sports medicine and other sports professionals would face fines of up to 300,000 rubles ($4,700) or in the amount of up to his or her 6-month income; or restriction of liberty for up to 1 year with deprivation of the right to hold specific posts and carry out specific activities for up to three years or without such measure for inducing athletes to use any prohibited substance.

Inducing to doping committed by a group of persons in collusion or regarding two or more athletes or minors as well as with forcible pressure to use banned medicine would be punished with fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($7,800) or in the amount of up to a defendant’s one-year income; or restriction of liberty for up to 2 years; or imprisonment of up to 1 year with or without deprivation of the right to hold specific posts for up to 4 years.

Compulsion to use prohibited substances resulted in a sportsperson’s death or other heavy consequences would be punishable by limitation of freedom for up to 3 years; correctional works for up to 3 years or prison sentence with or without deprivation of the right to hold specific posts for up to 5 years.

Use of methods prohibited in sports towards athletes regardless of their consent would result in fines of up to 1 million rubles ($15,500) or in the amount of up to two-year income of an offender; or restriction of liberty for up to 2 years; or imprisonment of up to one year with or without deprivation of the right to hold specific posts for up to 4 years.

Similar crimes led to an athlete’s death or other grave consequences would be punished with limitation of freedom for up to 3 years, or correctional labor for up to 3 years; or prison sentence of up to 3 years; all with or without deprivation of the right to hold specific posts for up to 5 years.

Earlier, Putin called for modernization of anti-doping legislation. Those who induce athletes to use prohibited medication must be punished, Putin said.