A panel of legal and medical professionals is set to be created according to The Japan Times, who will discuss what could be included as part of the law and hold hearings with key bodies throughout sport.

The panel are expected to have to consider whether breaches of a law would result in criminal charges and how it would tackle those who supply athletes with prohibited substances.

The move is seen as a response to the recent scandals involving Russian athletes and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which emerged when the first part of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Commission report was revealed in November.

Following the suspension of Russia by the IAAF, it is believe the Japanese Government want to send a strong message both domestically and international, with the scandal having damaged public trust in sport.

A bill is targeted to be put before the Japan's Parliament, the Diet, at an Extraordinary Session in the Autumn.

Should a bill be passed, Japan would become the latest country to make an attempt to tackle doping by putting measures into law.

A controversial new anti-doping law has officially come into force this month in Germany with professional sportsmen and women who test positive for drugs or are found guilty of possession of banned substance facing the prospect prison terms of up to three years.

Support staff who provide them with the substances, including doctors and coaches, could be jailed for up to 10 years.

They followed several other European countries, including Italy, Spain and France, in passing similar laws.

Sir Craig Reedie, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency, has claimed his organisation are "completely opposed to the criminalisation of athletes".

Japan generally has a good record on doping.

Only two Japanese athletes have tested positive at the Olympics, both volleyball players at Los Angeles 1984.

Eiji Shimomura tested positive for testosterone and Mikiyasu Tanaka for ephedrine.