Russia's State Duma passed an amendment to a new law on sports and physical culture that states athletes will be exempt from doping violations, if they are using drugs for therapeutic purposes.
The amendment also applies to cases of possession and distribution of prohibited substances.
Also exempt from the law would be coaches, doctors and other therapists who recommend the drugs to athletes.
The amendment was adopted during the second reading of a new law regulating high-level competitive sports and professional sports.
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