Spain is to introduce an anti-doping code to improve detection procedures, speed up the implementation of sanctions and clamp down on the trading of banned substances.

"The national anti-doping plan will be based on a combination of prevention, control and punishment in order to reach the goal of zero tolerance in the use of banned substances in sport," sports minister Jaime Lissavetsky was quoted as saying by the Spanish media on Wednesday.

"The cheats have to understand that they will not be allowed to win this battle."

Lissavetsky said Spain had become a centre of trading in banned substances used in many sports but that the government had started to take measures to deal with the problem.

"In the past there was a certain degree of permissiveness which allowed banned substances such as human growth hormone to be acquired in our country," he said.

"But since September it can no longer be sold in chemists and we are also carefully monitoring the amount of EPO that is being sold in each chemist in the country."

Leading Spanish sportsmen such as distance runner Alberto Garcia, cyclist Santi Perez and cross country skier Johan Muehlegg have tested positive for the blood-boosting agent EPO in recent years.

Lissavetsky said the introduction of the new code would help boost Madrid's bid to hold the 2012 Olympics [Images] by demonstrating the country's commitment to combat doping in sport.

"This will make it clear that Spain is aiming to become one of the leading countries in the crusade against doping," he said.

He added that special plans would be introduced for cycling and football although he did not make it clear what form these would take.