Drugs in Sport...

[DIEHARD]

Current press conference taking place. Sport Minister Kate Lundy and CEOs of all major football codes present.

Relates to match fixing and drug cheating...

[DIEHARD]

NRL MEDIA RELEASE:



The National Rugby League has today joined all major sports, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), the Australian Crime Commission, and the Federal Government in supporting a far reaching investigation into doping and integrity issues in sport.

The National Rugby League has also appointed former Federal Court Judge, The Hon. Tony Whitlam QC to assist in the investigation process and to establish a permanent NRL Integrity Unit.

The NRL has today committed to:

? The establishment of a fully resourced NRL Integrity Unit;
? Conduct an audit and establish a register of personnel supplying performance services to players and or NRL Clubs;
? Sanctioning any Club or player found to have concealed information in relation to a breach of the NRL Anti-Doping Policy;
? Requiring team doctors to review any instance where supplements, substances or other procedures may have been administered without the prior approval of the team doctor;
? Introducing centralised testing for illicit substances to complement existing club programs.

NRL CEO, Mr 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.

"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 in sport.

"Our fans and the absolute majority of our players deserve nothing less."

The information that the Australian Crime Commission has supplied to the NRL is governed by strict legal conditions which prohibits further comment.

[DIEHARD]

Multiple players from clubs could be banned.

A dark day for Australia sport and Rugby League. No matter the extent of it in our game. Any is too much.

[DIEHARD]

The establishment of a fully resourced NRL Integrity Unit;

Ive been calling for this for friggin years!! Too late fellas!!

[TITAN PETE]

NRL clubs, players under scrutiny

RSS
Ian McCullough AAP Thu, Feb 07, 2013 - 12:07 PM

ARL Commission chief Dave Smith has revealed NRL players and clubs are under investigation following the Australian Crime Commission's (ACC) report into the integrity of sport.

The ACC said on Thursday that the probe had uncovered widespread use of banned drugs in Australian professional sport and also links with organised crime and one possible instance of match-fixing.

The ACC's 12-month investigation, codenamed Project Aperio, focused primarily on two major sporting codes in Australia and collected incidental intelligence on others.

Smith confirmed the NRL had been working with the ACC in recent days and was determined to eradicate the wrongdoers.

"We've worked with the crime commission in the last week or so and information has come forward for NRL specifically that affects more than one player and more than one club," said Smith at a Canberra press conference where the CEOs from all the major sporting codes were present.

Smith would not elaborate on whether the information is specifically related to drug use or match-fixing.

The key findings of the investigation identified widespread use of prohibited substances including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs in professional sport.

Smith said the NRL had appointed former Federal Court judge Tony Whitlam QC to assist in the investigation process and to establish a permanent integrity unit for the code.

"We've been working with the crime commission on a range of issues that are outlined in the report," he said.

"We have already begun with ASADA, we've begun the investigation."

The NRL has also committed to conduct an audit and establish a register of people supplying performance services to players and clubs.

The code also announced sanctions will be imposed on any club or player found to have concealed information in relation to a breach of the NRL Anti-Doping Policy.

Club doctors will be ordered to review any instance where supplements, substances or other procedures may have been administered without their prior approval.

Centralised testing for illicit substances to complement existing club programs will also be introduced.

"We need to be strong, the sport deserves it, our fans deserve it, the majority of our athletes deserve us to be strong," Smith said.

"It's quite clear this is a very serious issue. What we know and history tells us is that you will get caught.

"We are adding resources, we're totally committed."

[DIEHARD]

Sad to see David Smiths first real foray into Rugby League dealing with such a messy situation.

[beeps]

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".

Project Aperio: What Is It?

What It Examined

The market for Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs)
The involvement of organised criminal identities and groups in the distribution of new generation PIEDs
The use of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited substances by professional athletes in Australia
Current threats to the integrity of professional sport in Australia.

What It Found

The investigation identified widespread use of prohibited substances including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs in professional sport.
It also found that this use has been facilitated by sports scientists, high-performance coaches and sports staff.
In some cases, players are being administered with substances that have not yet been approved for human use.
The ACC also identified organised crime identities and groups that are involved in the distribution of PIEDs to athletes and professional sports staff.
The report concluded that some coaches, sports scientists and support staff of elite athletes have orchestrated and/or condoned the use of prohibited substances.

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: ?It?s cheating, but it?s worse than that: it?s 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.



http://www.foxsports.com.au/other-sp...5#.URMf23A7Ku8

attn Mods if I've posted this in the wrong topic please feel free to move it.

[DIEHARD]

Titans media statement in relation to NRL investigation.

iSelect Gold Coast Titans media release Thursday 7th February 2013

The iSelect Gold Coast Titans is fully supportive of the NRL?s investigation into doping and integrity issues in sport following the release of the Australian Crime Commission?s findings and response to its 12 month investigation into Australia?s major sports.

iSelect Titans CEO David May said, ?As a club we have a zero tolerance policy that is strictly enforced. We believe there is no place for drugs in our game. I?ve got absolute confidence that the club is fully compliant with the standards set and regulated by ASADA and WADA ?

?We fully support and endorse the investigations currently underway and will cooperate with any request by any party. We believe this issue is best addressed at ?whole of game? level and fully endorse the steps being taken by the NRL,? said May

[Julius Sezer]

Have a feeling Manly might get involved. That guy who left Manly for Essendon is accused of doping other players is the reason why i think this. Why was the guy sacked from Manly in the first place?

[gothabull]

This sucks i hope the nrl isn't to heavy involved as it appears

[hammer]

Another year of the football fan being distracted from the game because of matters off the field of play. Poor old David Smith...welcome to the NRL. David Gallop must be thinking didn't I leave all that controversy stuff behind when I left rugby league...poor bugger up again as the Soccer CEO this time to deal with these doping dramas.

[hammer]

Have a feeling Manly might get involved. That guy who left Manly for Essendon is accused of doping other players is the reason why i think this. Why was the guy sacked from Manly in the first place?

Yes...I think Manly maybe in some strife...if found guilty...would they ever strip their premierships too...just like the Storm had their premierships stripped over salary cap breaches.

[Titanic]

I was glad to see Cricket Australia involved ... judging by the performances of the National team this season it appeared that they were all "out of it".

[hammer]

I was glad to see Cricket Australia involved ... judging by the performances of the National team this season it appeared that they were all "out of it".

I didn't see any representatives from netball though...or did I miss that!

[Smakked]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au./sp...-1226573046795


Good to see titans knew something was up before it happened.
Manly look to be in the ****. Striped of 2008 premeirship maybe?