The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) is to propose a ban of up to four years for drug cheats at a conference in Madrid next week.
Wada's proposals, which were today backed by British anti-doping chiefs, include lenient bans for athletes who agree to blow the whistle on other drugs cheats.
The changes to Wada's code are an attempt to combat doping networks and trafficking, a problem revealed by the Balco scandal in the USA which exposed British athlete Dwain Chambers and American Olympic medallist Marion Jones among others.
John Scott, director of drug-free sport at UK Sport, said: "This is a chance for UK Sport and its counterparts across the world to up their game across all areas of anti-doping.
"We must ensure no stone is left unturned in not only catching athletes who are cheating through taking prohibited substances and methods, but also those who are encouraging them and helping them to do so.
"The revised code and standards will leave us with the most comprehensive set of rules and regulations ever at our disposal, and the revisions made provide us with the opportunity to further increase the pressure on those who cheat through the misuse of drugs."
Other changes to Wada's code include:
- Option to increase bans for a first offence from two years to four years for 'aggravated circumstances', for example if the athlete is part of a wider doping operation.
- Athletes to be eligible for reduced bans if they provide evidence of doping activity against other athletes or athlete support personnel.
- Mandatory requirements for the amount and type of information athletes must provide on their whereabouts so they cannot have any advance notice of out-of-competition testing.
The conference will also see Wada chairman Dick Pound step down and be succeeded by former Australian finance minister John Fahey.