New French laws aimed at football drug cheats

French legislators have passed laws in the country's national assembly aimed at catching drug cheats in football.

The proposals will be enforced by the sports ministry - headed by communist minister Marie George Buffet - and represents the first co-ordinated programme of drug testing to be introduced into the French game. Random tests and bans will be introduced in the professional ranks if a player is found guilty of using a performance enhancing substance. The operation will also involve a testing body to oversee the programme run by an independent laboratory.