Australian sports in lethal grip of illegal drugs, organised crime

Sydney: A 12-month investigation by the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) has made shocking revelations that of use illegal drugs is rife throughout different sports in the country and organised crime groups are involved in frequent corrupt practices.

The inquest reveals how sports scientists, high-level coaches and sports staff are facilitating use of banned drugs in various sports in Australia, News.com.au reports. Organised crime groups are also involved in the frequent practice, which, in some cases sees players administered with substances not yet approved for human use, it further reported. The ACC also found evidence of concerning personal relationships between professional athletes and crime identities and groups that may have resulted in match fixing and the fraudulent manipulation of betting markets, the paper said. Justice Minister Jason Clare said anyone, who is involved in such illegal practices, to come forward before they get a knock at the door. Clare said the findings are shocking and would disgust Australian sports fans, adding it`s worse than that cheating, as it is deceiving with the help of criminals. Clare added the investigation has found the use of prohibited substances including peptides, hormones is widespread, adding the evidence to date is not the majority but they talking multiple athletes across a number of codes. Clare further said in some cases players are being administered with drugs that have not yet been approved for human use. The news comes as allegations circulate involving claims that rugby club Essendon`s players were injected with unknown substances. The reports also said sports scientists hold an increasingly influential place at clubs. They report added the criminals were exploiting a loophole that meant people who supplied substances prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code did not commit a crime, even though athletes who used the substances faced substantial sporting bans. "If left unchecked, it is likely that organised criminals will increase their presence in the distribution of peptides and hormones in Australia," the report said. The Australian Sport Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and other authorities will investigate the explosive findings, the paper added. ANI