Should we be surprised that this is occurring???? I for one am not after everything that has gone on in the cycling world. Its hard to believe that cycling was the only sport doing it....and it would be far fetched to think that sporting codes down this way would not be doing everything in their power to win comps - especially with all the big money around - think Melb Storm and the Bulldogs a few yrs back.



A year-long government investigation has found widespread use of banned drugs in Australian professional sport and links with organised crime.

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. The ACC also identified organised crime identities and groups that were 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,'' Justice Minister Jason Clare said in a statement.
"The findings are shocking and will disgust Australian sports fans," he said.
"It's cheating...but it's worse than that. It's cheating with the help of criminals.''
Mr Clare said one possible case of match-fixing was already under investigation, though he did not identify the sport.
He said that the evidence to date indicates that it is not the majority of athletes who are taking banned substances. The investigation had also found organised criminals had been involved in the distribution of drugs. "This is particularly serious," he said. Former Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority boss Richard Ings said Australians had been in denial about sports doping here for to too long. ''This is not a black day in Australian sport, this is the blackest day in Australian sport," he said. 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.

Read more: www.smh.com.au/sport/probe-finds-widespread-use-of-drugs-in-sport-crime-links-20130207-2dzw1.html