To understand every single development process on the European level, it is necessary to know and to refer to the background of the individual national conditions and the development of the involved countries. The distinct approach of the French government regarding the doping problem and the comparatively cautious approach of the German government has to be seen against the background that a direct, governmental reaction in Germany stands in contrast to the principle of non-governmental sporting organisations (i.e. the "autonomy of sport", which was in charge for the problem of doping for a long time), whereas in France the responsibility for this specific sports related topic (like sport in general) lies within the direct governmental competence. National sporting systems in competitive sport do not only appear as partner (e.g. anti-doping fight), but they are even in competition to each other and to the sport systems of the Non-EU-countries.