A NEW three-point anti-doping plan has been approved by the board of scottishathletics, giving them the power to expunge any Scottish national records set by athletes who are subsequently banned for a serious doping offence. Designed as a response to the ongoing scandal over misuse of substances in the sport, firstly there is a reminder to all members that entry to a Scottish National Championship event - such as the Scottish Seniors at the Emirates Arena this Saturday, or the National Cross Country Champs in Falkirk on February 27 - carries with it agreement to undertake anti-doping procedures on event day if requested. The governing body will also issue a reminder on the guidelines and the latest banned substance lists and amend the criteria regarding Scottish national records.

While the board are still discussing how best to reassess historical records against which allegations of performance-enhancing drug use have been made, a line in the sand has now been drawn. Any athlete, in any age group, serving a two-year suspension for a serious doping offence will forfeit any records already held and be unable to set any further national records for the remainder of their careers.

The hardline stance north of the border was in the pipeline before the revelations from Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics, at a culture, media and sport select committee meeting this week. He said that the governing body's lawyers were working on a team agreement ahead of the world indoors championships in Oregon in March where athletes would agree to forfeit the right ever to be picked for Britain again if found guilty of a serious doping offence.

"We are very aware that the recent disclosures around anti-doping procedures globally and corruption at the IAAF have been deeply damaging and are an acute concern for lovers of the sport here in Scotland, said Ian Beattie, scottishathletics chairman. "I would stress we vehemently condemn all those complicit, whatever their roles or involvement, and would like to see still more transparency in the weeks and months ahead. It is vital that all matters are dealt with now in order to shine a light on cheating and other malpractice to allow the sport to move forward with integrity.

"scottishathletics does not have direct jurisdiction over anti-doping matters – that responsibility falls to UK Athletics and the independent body, UK Anti-Doping. But there are some steps we can and will take – as they are within our remit as governing body in Scotland.

"We have as a Board on a number of occasions over the past two years discussed issues relating to some long-standing Scottish National records, against which allegations have been made regarding the use of performance-enhancing substances by the athletes at that time. So far, we have not yet come up with the right framework to take action in a way which is fair to all athletes and takes account of the evidence available for historical performances. However, it remains firmly on our agenda and a subject for more discussion.

"I hope these steps demonstrate our deep determination to act on this issue and we will do so on the points outlined as soon as possible. With National Indoor and Cross County events looming, plus the Glasgow Grand Prix and the European Indoor 2019 bid for the Emirates Arena, as well as record numbers for many of our events, we are pleased with the current health of the sport in Scotland. It is vital therefore that we do what we can, and urge others to play their role, in order to protect that and prove that athletics is a wonderful sport which is open to all."