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Australian sport rocked by doping inquiry Australian sport rocked by doping inquiry
(about 3 hours later)
A year-long investigation has found "widespread" use of banned drugs in Australian professional sport. The use of banned drugs in Australian professional sport is "widespread", a year-long investigation has found.
The href="http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/" >Australian Crime Commission said the use of illicit drugs was often facilitated by organised crime syndicates. The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) said scientists, coaches and support staff were involved in the provision of drugs across multiple sporting codes.
It said the criminal links may have resulted in match-fixing and the manipulation of betting markets. In some cases, the drugs were supplied by organised crime syndicates, it said.
Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said the findings were "shocking and will disgust Australian sports fans".Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said the findings were "shocking and will disgust Australian sports fans".
"Multiple athletes from a number of clubs in major Australian sporting codes are suspected of currently using or having previously used peptides, potentially constituting anti-doping rule violations," Mr Clare said.
"It's cheating but it's worse than that, it's cheating with the help of criminals."
The BBC's Nick Bryant in Australia says that in a sports-loving nation like Australia the impact of the report has been huge.The BBC's Nick Bryant in Australia says that in a sports-loving nation like Australia the impact of the report has been huge.
With fans asking which sportsmen and women can be trusted, it is a black day for Australian sport, he adds.With fans asking which sportsmen and women can be trusted, it is a black day for Australian sport, he adds.
The commission identified widespread use of substances including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs among sports professionals. 'We'll catch you'
In some cases the substances had not yet been approved for human use. href="http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/organised-crime-and-drugs-in-sports-feb2013.pdf" >In its report, the commission said it looked at the use of a new form of PIEDs (performance and image enhancing drugs) known as peptides and hormones, which provide effects similar to anabolic steroids.
The report said findings indicated that sports scientists, coaches, support staff, doctors and pharmacists were involved in the provision of drugs and that sometimes entire teams had been doped. "Despite being prohibited substances in professional sport, peptides and hormones are being used by professional athletes in Australia, facilitated by sports scientists, high-performance coaches and sports staff," it said.
'Worse than cheating' "Widespread use of these substances has been identified, or is suspected by the ACC, in a number of professional sporting codes in Australia."
The use of illicit drugs in some sports was thought to be "significantly higher" than official statistics showed, it added.
In some cases, players had been administered with drugs not yet approved for human use, the report also said.
The commission found that organised crime syndicates were involved in the distribution of the banned substances - something Mr Clare, the home affairs minister, called particularly serious.
"Links between organised crime and players exposes players to the risk of being co-opted for match-fixing and this investigation has identified one possible example of that and that is currently under investigation," he said.
Because criminal investigations are under way the report does not go into details, our correspondent says.Because criminal investigations are under way the report does not go into details, our correspondent says.
At least one match had allegedly been fixed, the report said, but it did not reveal in which sport.
"Multiple athletes from a number of clubs in major Australian sporting codes are suspected of currently using or having previously used peptides, potentially constituting anti-doping rule violations," Mr Clare said.
"It's cheating but it's worse than that, it's cheating with the help of criminals."
Sports Minister Kate Lundy said sports organisations would be encouraged to establish "integrity units" and engage the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency and law enforcement agencies to root out the problems.Sports Minister Kate Lundy said sports organisations would be encouraged to establish "integrity units" and engage the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency and law enforcement agencies to root out the problems.
"If you want to cheat, we will catch you, if you want to fix a match, we will catch you," Ms Lundy said."If you want to cheat, we will catch you, if you want to fix a match, we will catch you," Ms Lundy said.
The report said there were "clear parallels" between what had been discovered in Australia and the US Anti-Doping Agency investigation into disgraced Tour de France cyclist Lance Armstrong.The report said there were "clear parallels" between what had been discovered in Australia and the US Anti-Doping Agency investigation into disgraced Tour de France cyclist Lance Armstrong.
It said the links underlined "the trans-national threat posed by doping to professional sport".It said the links underlined "the trans-national threat posed by doping to professional sport".
"The difference is that the Australian threat is current, crosses sporting codes and is evolving," it concluded.