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http://www.foxsports.com.au/other-s...ised-crime-links/story-fnh9oq7q-1226572519135
Government probe finds widespread use of banned drugs in Australian sport, organised crime links.
The findings of a year-long government investigation which found widespread use of banned drugs in Australian professional sport and links with organised crime "are shocking and will disgust Australian fans".
The Darkest Day
The Australian Crime Commission released the findings of a 12-month investigation into the integrity of Australian sport and the relationship between professional sporting bodies, prohibited substances and organised crime.
It said the links may have resulted in match-fixing and fraudulent manipulation of betting markets.
The key findings of the investigation identified widespread use of prohibited substances including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs in professional sport.
It said that in some cases players were being administered with substances that have not yet been approved for human use.
Justice Minister Jason Clare said one possible case of match-fixing was already under investigation, though he did not identify the sport.
"The findings are shocking and will disgust Australian sports fans," Clare said.
The ACC also identified organised crime identities and groups that are involved in the distribution of PIEDS (Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs), to athletes and professional sports stars.
The ACC report noted increasing evidence of personal relationships of concern between professional athletes and organised criminal identities and groups.
"The ACC has found that professional sport in Australia is highly vulnerable to infiltration by organised crime. Multiple athletes from a number of clubs in major Australian sporting codes are suspected of currently using or having used peptides," Clare said.
"Official from clubs have also been identified as administering, via injections and intravenous drips, a variety of substances."
Clare added: Its cheating, but its worse than that: its cheating with the help of criminals."
Sports Minister Kate Lundy said revelations from international cycling showed that doping could be well organised and systemic and conducted in parallel with a comprehensive testing regime.
"With doping becoming increasingly sophisticated, it is less likely that anti-doping violations will be detected through analytical means alone," she said.
The National Rugby League CEO Dave Smith said rugby league would be strong in meeting emerging threats in world sport.
"As sports we have to get this right and we will," Smith said.
"We are committed to working with ASADA and the Government in dealing with these threats and in addition to that will strengthen our own investigative capability.
"Regardless of the outcome of those investigations, there is an opportunity here to take the initiative in terms of the integrity of sport.
"Our fans and the absolute majority of our players deserve nothing less."
Federal sports minister Kate Lundy said the government was moving to introduce tough new measures to crack down on the use of banned drugs and unethical behaviour in sport.
"Today is about the integrity of sport in Australia," Lundy said.
"If you want to dope and cheat, we will catch you. If you want to fix a match, we will catch you.
"And as you can see by the investigations that have taken place, that we are well on the way to seeking out and hunting down those who will dope and cheat."
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said he doesn't know how many individual clubs are involved in the potentially illegal drug use.
"But everybody here is very clear about the rules we operate under," he said.
While ARU boss Bill Pulver said: "While being quite proud of our record it would be naive of the ARU to think this is not an issue that spans all Australian sports."
The report concluded that some coaches, sports scientists and support staff of elite athletes have orchestrated and/or condoned the use of prohibited substances.
Some sports scientists have indicated a willingness to administer substances to elite athletes which are untested or not yet approved for human use.
Government probe finds widespread use of banned drugs in Australian sport, organised crime links.
The findings of a year-long government investigation which found widespread use of banned drugs in Australian professional sport and links with organised crime "are shocking and will disgust Australian fans".
The Darkest Day
The Australian Crime Commission released the findings of a 12-month investigation into the integrity of Australian sport and the relationship between professional sporting bodies, prohibited substances and organised crime.
It said the links may have resulted in match-fixing and fraudulent manipulation of betting markets.
The key findings of the investigation identified widespread use of prohibited substances including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs in professional sport.
It said that in some cases players were being administered with substances that have not yet been approved for human use.
Justice Minister Jason Clare said one possible case of match-fixing was already under investigation, though he did not identify the sport.
"The findings are shocking and will disgust Australian sports fans," Clare said.
The ACC also identified organised crime identities and groups that are involved in the distribution of PIEDS (Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs), to athletes and professional sports stars.
The ACC report noted increasing evidence of personal relationships of concern between professional athletes and organised criminal identities and groups.
"The ACC has found that professional sport in Australia is highly vulnerable to infiltration by organised crime. Multiple athletes from a number of clubs in major Australian sporting codes are suspected of currently using or having used peptides," Clare said.
"Official from clubs have also been identified as administering, via injections and intravenous drips, a variety of substances."
Clare added: Its cheating, but its worse than that: its cheating with the help of criminals."
Sports Minister Kate Lundy said revelations from international cycling showed that doping could be well organised and systemic and conducted in parallel with a comprehensive testing regime.
"With doping becoming increasingly sophisticated, it is less likely that anti-doping violations will be detected through analytical means alone," she said.
The National Rugby League CEO Dave Smith said rugby league would be strong in meeting emerging threats in world sport.
"As sports we have to get this right and we will," Smith said.
"We are committed to working with ASADA and the Government in dealing with these threats and in addition to that will strengthen our own investigative capability.
"Regardless of the outcome of those investigations, there is an opportunity here to take the initiative in terms of the integrity of sport.
"Our fans and the absolute majority of our players deserve nothing less."
Federal sports minister Kate Lundy said the government was moving to introduce tough new measures to crack down on the use of banned drugs and unethical behaviour in sport.
"Today is about the integrity of sport in Australia," Lundy said.
"If you want to dope and cheat, we will catch you. If you want to fix a match, we will catch you.
"And as you can see by the investigations that have taken place, that we are well on the way to seeking out and hunting down those who will dope and cheat."
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said he doesn't know how many individual clubs are involved in the potentially illegal drug use.
"But everybody here is very clear about the rules we operate under," he said.
While ARU boss Bill Pulver said: "While being quite proud of our record it would be naive of the ARU to think this is not an issue that spans all Australian sports."
The report concluded that some coaches, sports scientists and support staff of elite athletes have orchestrated and/or condoned the use of prohibited substances.
Some sports scientists have indicated a willingness to administer substances to elite athletes which are untested or not yet approved for human use.
