Athletics chiefs called again on Monday for doping offences to be punished with mandatory four-year suspensions.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) council in Mombasa said it would like to see this term introduced into a new version of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code due to be ratified in November.

In a statement, it named four areas in which it would like to see such sanctions applied, including use of anabolic steroids, hormones (including EPO) and amphetamines...evasion of doping controls... (and) tampering with the testing process.

It added that such a suspension could be reduced on appeal only if "exceptional circumstances" were proved.

Under current anti-doping regulations, athletes who test positive for a substance on WADA's annually revised prohibited list receive a mandatory ban of two years.