The IAAF Council has approved new regulations which will spell out the obligations of its member federations in the fight against doping.
Previously, the obligations under the anti-doping code were focused primarily on individuals rather than member federations. The Athletics Integrity Unit recommended the new regulations to the IAAF as a crucial step in protecting the integrity of the sport.
The IAAF will divide member federations into three different categories which will have different obligations based on their level of success in athletics and the risk of doping.
The current watch list of four member federations (Kenya, Ethiopia, Belarus, Ukraine) will be folded into Category A, which will include those member federations most at risk of doping. The national team athletes from these federations will have to undergo at least three out-of-competition doping tests in the ten months before a World Championships or Olympic Games.
Category B will include the other federations who are competitive at the international level.
Category C will include federations with very few international-level athletes.
Category A and B federations will be required to ensure athlete drug-testing plans are submitted to the IAAF before each world championships or Olympic Games.
Under this system, the AIU will have responsibility for monitoring and reporting breaches, but the IAAF council will determine any sanctions.
