Funding boost for Anti-Doping and Sports Integrity

Federal Sports Minister Kate Lundy has announced new funding of $3.46 million in the 2013/14 Budget for anti-doping body the Australian Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and the National Integrity of Sport Unit (NSIU).

Senator Lundy explained that the funding is being provided to help ASADA with current investigations and to help individual sports strengthen their integrity systems on the back of the Australian Crime Commission's Project Aperio Report.

She explained "(the) Government first established the National Integrity of Sport Unit in 2012 to initially focus on the risks associated with match fixing - and our national policy is recognised as world leading.

"What we learned from the ACC Report is that there are many threats to the integrity of sport - threats that go beyond doping, illicit drugs and match-fixing.

"That's why we are expanding the role of the National Integrity of Sport Unit. The NISU will employ specialist intelligence officers to gather information about sport integrity issues and provide expert assistance to individual sports to help them establish their own integrity policies and ways to enforce those policies.

"The NISU will focus on those grey areas where we may not be talking about doping, where we may not be talking about match-fixing, but we are talking about unethical conduct."

Minister Lundy explained that $1.7 million of the funding will be provided to the NISU and $1.76 million to ASADA.

She added "ASADA's investigation resources have already been doubled in the wake of Project Aperio.

"This funding will see those resources maintained until at least 2014-15, to ensure ASADA can explore all possible avenues of inquiry."

The Australian Government currently invests $169 million in Australia's high performance sports system through the Australian Sports Commission. The Government believes investing an additional $1.76 million in ASADA and $1.7 million in the NISU through to 2014-15 is the right balance to protect the integrity of sport.

Senator Lundy concluded "this funding demonstrates our Government's commitment to tough new measures to crack down on the use of banned substances and unethical behaviour in sport.

"My state and territory colleagues have agreed to implement policies, including the national match-fixing policy, to ensure the broader integrity of sport is protected.

"From grass-roots participation to elite sport, the Australian Government is committed to Australian sport being played clean and fair."