World Anti-Doping Agency Makes Investigations A Priority

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1 May 2008

Australia can play a leading role to coordinate international sports drug cheat investigations, the Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, told the World Anti-Doping Agency's third international symposium in Sydney today.

“Less than 100 days out from the Beijing Olympics, this meeting comes at an important time,” Ms Ellis said.

“The Australian Government invests almost $13 million a year to protect the integrity of Australian sport through anti-doping activities and our country has long been a world leader on anti-doping.

“There’s much we can teach other countries and indeed there is plenty we can continue to learn from overseas experiences.

“The Sydney symposium will allow countries to work together to develop protocols and proposals for best practice in information sharing and investigative practices into anti-doping.”

In welcoming the international and Australian experts participating in the symposium, Ms Ellis said sports bodies could no longer rely on testing alone as the major weapon against doping in sport.

“While I am pleased to report that ASADA has all the necessary equipment, training and procedures in place to make full use of the new test for human growth hormone, we have to go even further,” Ms Ellis said.

“As doping becomes more sophisticated, its detection needs to go beyond individual testing and laboratory analysis, to identify other serious violations such as use, possession and trafficking.

“We have extended our anti-doping systems beyond the traditional approach of catching an athlete with a substance in their body to the more subtle, complex and effective strategy of investigations to determine whether prohibited substances have been used, possessed or passed on by an athlete.

“Australia also recognises the need for an integrated global response based on coordinated investigations and the responsible sharing of information between national anti doping organisations, the sporting movement and relevant law enforcement bodies,” she said.

Ms Ellis said those attending the symposium included high-level representatives from UNESCO, government, policing and Olympic bodies - including law enforcement agencies and Interpol.


Media contact: - Brent Hooley 0434 561 033