The world's athletics' governing body IAAF has reiterated its call for an increase in doping sanctions to four years for the next version of the World Anti-Doping Code which will be ratified in November 2007.

The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) said in its news release said the four-year sanctions would be imposed on serious first time doping violations for use or possession of anabolic steroids (including EPO) and amphetamine.

"It will also apply for presence/use/possession of all Prohibited Methods; refusal or failure to submit to doping control of otherwise evading of doping control and tampering, or attempting to tamper, with the doping control process," it said.

"The above four year sanction may be reduced if the athlete, or other person, can prove 'exceptional circumstances' in the case," the release said.

However, exceptional circumstances will be considered to apply only in cases where the circumstances are truly exceptional and not in the vast majority of cases.

Meanwhile, IAAF Council, which is meeting in the coastal city of Mombasa, is expected to select host cities on Tuesday for two editions of the most important competition on the IAAF Calendar.

Each delegation will have 40 minutes to present their most convincing arguments to the 25 voting members of the IAAF Council (three members are absent) followed by a 20-minute question and answer session.

(Xinhua News Agency?March 27, 2007)