Australian Crime Commission investigation finds widespread doping

[auscyclefan94]

I am enjoying seeing this as sick and twisted as it sounds....I am tired of seeing Cycling as the whipping boy and doping has always been rife in other sports, it's about time it was exposed to all to see.

Although most of the press in Australia in the past has been about these meatheads boozing and beating people up and taking recreational drugs.

Agreed. Time for people to wake up to the facts.

 

[clipperton]

i'm hopeful that this will see folks stop suggesting i crack out a tinfoil hat every time i say that all sports have a doping problem, though knowing the footyfootyfooty mindset, there'll surely be plenty of "nah, they'd never do that" and "well they can't know everything that's being put in them, they're not cheats".

 

[observer]

i'm hopeful that this will see folks stop suggesting i crack out a tinfoil hat every time i say that all sports have a doping problem, though knowing the footyfootyfooty mindset, there'll surely be plenty of "nah, they'd never do that" and "well they can't know everything that's being put in them, they're not cheats".

Don't get excited yet, there's a big broom, and a really big rug that's ready to cover all this up. It's already started with the ignorance claims and the "culture" of just saying yes to coaches cause the "kids" are desperate to get a game.

There will be no bans, no retroactive testing, no stripping of titles, unless of course there is a soccer team that can take the fall.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Read this on twitter.

Jason Clare discussing sport but also the ALP motto - “It’s cheating but it’s worse than that, it’s cheating with the help of criminals.’’

 

[Cyivel]

Fair play to the Aussie's hopefully others follow their lead.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Read this on twitter.

Jason Clare discussing sport but also the ALP motto - “It’s cheating but it’s worse than that, it’s cheating with the help of criminals.’’

In professional sports cheating with doping, match fixing and the like should be criminal. Then there would not be a distinction.

 

[MarkvW]

In professional sports cheating with doping, match fixing and the like should be criminal. Then there would not be a distinction.

Big waste of law enforcement resources. Let the sport and its fans pay for cleaning up their game. If the owners, players, and fans don't want to pay to have a clean game, then why should the public pay to clean up their amusement?

 

[Ferminal]

Bad apples.

Edit: I will add it definitely would include Cricket in the part about match fixing. Reports suggested the BBL as a likely target. Not sure if Cricket is also targeted for peptides.

Would be hard to ignore cricket, with all those injuries...

 

[rata de sentina]

This is a breaking story but could be a bombshell in Australian sports

Surely you mean a bomber shell?

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Just watched a John Fahey interview, not really much new out of the interview, but I find him to be quite impressive on how he explains things.

 

[sittingbison]

Big waste of law enforcement resources. Let the sport and its fans pay for cleaning up their game. If the owners, players, and fans don't want to pay to have a clean game, then why should the public pay to clean up their amusement?

I disagree Mark. The moment money is involved, not only prize money but more importantly sanctioned legal betting like 365.com and now tomwaterhouse.com, match fixing falls into the realm of criminal fraud. Should be investigated by the police and the perps should be flung in jail.

Apparently mungo NRL (rugby league) just signed a $50m contract with Tom Waterhouse for online betting. This stinks to high heaven, worse than UCI being involved in drug testing and sanctions (or lack thereof lol).

 

[sittingbison]

Surely you mean a bomber shell?

post of the day

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Big waste of law enforcement resources. Let the sport and its fans pay for cleaning up their game. If the owners, players, and fans don't want to pay to have a clean game, then why should the public pay to clean up their amusement?

Isn't the law enforcement agencies which are having the best success of exposing doping?

 

[MarkvW]

Isn't the law enforcement agencies which are having the best success of exposing doping?

Are we winning the "war on drugs?"

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Are we winning the "war on drugs?"

No it is being lost.

 

[MarkvW]

I disagree Mark. The moment money is involved, not only prize money but more importantly sanctioned legal betting like 365.com and now tomwaterhouse.com, match fixing falls into the realm of criminal fraud. Should be investigated by the police and the perps should be flung in jail.

Apparently mungo NRL (rugby league) just signed a $50m contract with Tom Waterhouse for online betting. This stinks to high heaven, worse than UCI being involved in drug testing and sanctions (or lack thereof lol).

I could agree with public-funded investigations of sports and sports betting, but only if we jacked up the taxes on those events to cover the cost. There's a lot of important stuff going wanting.

 

[D-Queued]

Are we winning the "war on drugs?"

Just say no.

Dave.

 

[klmorgan]

A long time clinic lurker, but first time real poster in the clinic, however please everyone excuse the length of my post!

Skimming the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) report, while it indicates it focuses on the major sporting codes, the following from the key findings (page 8 of the Report) under the heading Professional Athletes makes the following statement:

Multiple players across some sporting codes and specific clubs within those codes are suspected of currently using or having previously used peptides, which could constitute an anti-doping rule violation. The level of suspected use of peptides varies between some sporting codes, however officials from a club have been identified as administering, via injections and intravenous drips, a variety of substances, possibly including peptides. Moreover, the substances were administered at levels which were possibly in breach of WADA anti-doping rules.
The use of peptides and hormones is linked to a culture in some professional sports in Australia of administering untested and experimental substances to athletes in the hope they will provide an advantage in the highly competitive world of professional sport. In some instances, the substances are not yet approved for human use.

at http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/s...ganised-crime-and-drugs-in-sports-feb2013.pdf

At least there is now acknowledgement that the issue is much wider than one sport, particularly in light of the following Statement made in the Australian Sports Commission "The Essence of Australian Sport" report, that

“Australians are proud of their sporting ability and reputation as a nation of good sports, and our society expects high standards of behaviour from all people involved in sport.”

at http://www.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/312869/A4_brochure_7_05-V5.pdf page 2 as quoted in the ACC report, and that the ACC report identified

the increasing link between
sports and wagering markets means the issues identified by the ACC and ASADA also have major implications for the integrity of sports betting markets.

According to the report

anabolic steroids remain the most widely recognised PIEDs, an array of drugs that were originally developed for the treatment of medical and hormonal disorders by manipulating the body’s hormonal system are now also being used as PIEDs.

(note that the report uses PIED as an abbreviation for Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs). Clearly it is acknowledging something that we have known in cycling for years, that drugs are a real issue in sport, and that they impact on the competition, but also the public and its view of the sports involve in such scandels.

The report, thank goodness takes the time to explain some of the major issues that were found (for those who really don't understand PEDs clearly, at least it provides an insight).

When explaining the users the report, for elite athletes, which would include cyclists states:

Widespread use of peptides has been identified, or is suspected by the ACC, in a number of professional sporting codes in Australia. Although the use of peptides appears to be more widespread in some major codes, individuals from a number of other sports are also suspected of using peptides.
Multiple players (in one code) from a number of clubs are suspected of currently using or having previously used peptides, which could constitute an anti-doping rule violation. Some players have also been identified as sourcing peptides for personal use. An instance of team-based doping, orchestrated by some club officials and coaching staff, has also been identified.
Apart from the peptide’s anabolic effects, it has been found that injured elite athletes, particularly players from one sporting code, have been using peptides to assist in rehabilitating soft tissue injuries.
While the level of suspected use of peptides varies between sporting codes, officials from one club have been identified as administering, via injections and intravenous drips, a variety of substances, possibly including peptides. Moreover, the substances were administered at levels which were possibly in breach of WADA anti-doping rules. This activity was orchestrated by some club officials and the club’s high performance unit.
While intelligence confirms the use of peptides in major sporting codes, it further suggests that individuals in a range of other codes may also be using peptides.

Of course in light of the revelations from the Essendon Football Club in the AFL of the last few days, we can see that there is significant substance to this. We all know that cycling in Australia cycling is not exempt, and may remeber the 2004 cycling scandel around Mark French and the finding of PEDs in his accommodation at the Australian Institute of Sport cycling program (e.g. see http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/18/1087245115867.html for a reminder), we have to assume (and it does grate on me as an Aussie to say this) that cycling is still not exempt from this behaviour.

The report is, while not obvious at a first read scathing of sport scientists and high performance staff. It notes with elite sports that

The standard of competition at the elite level of sport has reached a point where winning margins are now measured in hundredths of a second. There is an everincreasing focus on the science of sport in order to ensure that athletes perform at the highest possible standard and gain any possible competitive advantage. Remaining competitive at the elite level is now dependent on access to the best sports scientists and use of the latest technology.

While focusing on Australia's various football codes, clearly we can draw links to cycling that we know from the "Armstrong" era that winning is necessary and people are willing to do whatever they can to ensure that this happens through the access to "sport scientists" amd technological advances. However to illustrate their point the use as a case study the USADA investigation into Discovery Channel/US Postal (see page 27 of the report), clearly showing how this can be effected and impact on a sport.

The more disturbing thing that I found in the report, was the use of untested substances on Athletes, which for lack of evidence WADA has not yet determined should be on the banned list or not (note page 28 of the report) - what could cyclists be using that will become later banned, and how will this impact on the record books in the future.

While the report, takes the time to examine organised crime and its impacts wiht sport (both in the betting markets but also the supply of PEDs, which is not really relevant to the point of doping per se), one of the most compelling comments in its final peices of analysis is:

Due to the highly sophisticated nature of doping, specific skills and knowledge are required to ensure athletes obtain the greatest possible benefit without returning a positive anti-doping sample. Overseas experience has illustrated the fundamental role contracted sports scientists and medical professionals play in sophisticated doping programs, as was most clearly demonstrated in the case of Dr Ferrari and his involvement with Lance Armstrong.

Clearly it has to ring bells with anyone that where there is a potential advantage, either in the race of finanial, people will seek to circumvent the systems. We know that cycling has shown this to be the case, and we can not be so dense as to ignore the fact that the issues that the ACC identified will still be the case in cycling.

As an Australian, you cannot ignore the fact that Australia cyclists are likely still using PEDs, and cheating the system as much as anyone from any other country. Hopefully the ACC report, through provides both a wake-up, and a potential way to make changes that will benefit all sports - however cycling shows that officials are likely to put their head in the sand and ignore the issue.

From its analysis the ACC is, identifying that the issue is not a one-country only (as they are clear that there are international aspects to all the issues), and therefore any resolution to the issues will require international cooperation, but we know that this is unlikely, and therefore the issues that cycling as a sport has had to confront, and other sports will have to confront will continue to be an issuem and we will not eliminate PEDs from any sport. This however would not, in this humble poster's opinion, mean that we should wipe our hands and allow open slather, as the risks to the sports persons, particularly the vunerable, to agree to a program will be significant, and the consequences dramatic.

 

[klmorgan]

Big waste of law enforcement resources. Let the sport and its fans pay for cleaning up their game. If the owners, players, and fans don't want to pay to have a clean game, then why should the public pay to clean up their amusement?

As to a waste of law enforcement resources, the ACC's mandate includes investigation of nationally significant crime, and given the identification of the involvement of organised crime and cross border issues, clearly the involvement of an investigation agency is important.

Further, it can only help shape the debate publically as to what to do with PEDs and betting in sport, not only in Australia, but hopefully internationally, and at least attempt to try and deal with the issues.

MarkvW, while I can see your point, and I am not trying to be provoative, how could you make the fans pay. While some attend events as paying spectators, others watch from their own home and many others watch sport from free spectating areas?

 

[Alphabet]

I wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not.

By major sporting codes I'm guessing it at least refers to NRL, AFL, Union and possibly Soccer. Might include Cricket too I suppose.

Edit: I will add it definitely would include Cricket in the part about match fixing. Reports suggested the BBL as a likely target. Not sure if Cricket is also targeted for peptides.

While it would be naive of me to think of cricket as fully clean, I think the vast success that very unfit/overweight players- such as Inzamam-ul-Haq, Sehwag and Warne have had- indicates to me that it might not be very widespread except amongst fast bowlers.

 

[observer]

While it would be naive of me to think of cricket as fully clean, I think the vast success that very unfit/overweight players- such as Inzamam-ul-Haq, Sehwag and Warne have had- indicates to me that it might not be very widespread except amongst fast bowlers.

I recall Shane Warne serving a drug suspension, with a really weak excuse about his mum

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

I recall Shane Warne serving a drug suspension, with a really weak excuse about his mum

Yeah his mum sent him the diuretic to help him look better, absolutely nothing to do with performance enhancing, just a big mistake, we should not even be remembering it is so unfair on him, totally innocent, poor fellow, a real victim in all this.

 

[peterst6906]

Would be hard to ignore cricket, with all those injuries...

Hard to include cricket with the silly rotation policy currently in place in Oz.

Players are rested now when they break a finger nail. No need for performance enhancers.

Although with the current policy, the players may be on recreational drugs, just to cope with the frustrations bought on by management.

 

[clausdollerup]

Like other people have mentioned here, i'm not suprised about this as a nation of sport, Aus will always have people who will try to get the advantage by use of drugs especially in the sports mentioned......but i'm just glad that someone finally are paying as much attention to other sports than just cycling to show that doping is as wide as there are sports....so maybe cycling can get away from being bashed as the doping sport and all other sports are clean

I remember about 6-7 years ago when living in the UK, i heard that a few footballers who had various foot injuries, would be getting pain killing injections before games and that was accepted and people saw these players as tough guys for doing so and at the time, if a cyclist would take a nose spray for a cold, it was doping......as much as i don't like to see doping in any sport, i'm glad that this investigation is so serious and wide and for once not focusing on cycling.....the sport i love is still murky to say the least, but i do believe that it is trying to clear it up.....but this investigations shows that we are not the only sport that is infected.....

Here to a cleaner sport...(i guess we can all dream )

 

[Ferminal]

http://asada.gov.au/media/organised_crime_and_drugs_in_sport.html

ASADA’s involvement started some 18 months ago when we were assessing intelligence about the use of peptides and hormones in sport.

Our intelligence identified possible criminal links regarding the distribution of these substances in sport.

As a result of these links we were keen to involve the Australian Crime Commission and support them through their investigation.

What the Australian Crime Commission’s report reveals is extremely disturbing.

It highlights threats to the integrity of sport and identifies the widespread use of peptides and hormones in some sports

Peptides and hormones are considered a new generation of substances and most are prohibited in sport.

In many instances, the substances are not yet approved for human use.

ASADA has commenced its formal investigation and we will investigate both athletes and support personnel.

I know many will want to know how long the investigation is going to take. This investigation is complex and wide-ranging.

Based on the report’s findings, ASADA will investigate many individuals, across a range of sports.

I cannot say how long it will take, but I can assure everyone that we will be taking the steps necessary to undertake a comprehensive and timely investigation.

As many are aware our legislation does not allow us to talk about an ongoing investigation. This ensures the privacy of any individual under investigation is protected.

I would like to put on record that the sports have committed to work with us wherever we see necessary, and are already engaged in that process.

We are urging anyone with information about doping in sport to come and talk to us. Every bit of information no matter how little could be a piece of a puzzle we need.

We started the ball rolling 18 months ago working with the Australian Crime Commission.

ASADA’s formal investigation is already underway.

Aurora Andruska PSM