New partnership to tackle doping in sport

The Federal Government has announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) to protect the integrity of sport.

Introducing the MOU Federal Minister for Sport Kate Lundy said under the terms of the new MoU, ASADA and the ACC will now be able to more efficiently share intelligence and work collaboratively to investigate allegations of doping in sport.

Senator Lundy explained "following the extraordinary revelations of sophisticated doping uncovered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Australians can be reassured that the Gillard Government remains focused on eradicating organised doping in sport.

"There is no place for doping in sport - put simply, doping is cheating.

"Doping undermines the integrity of sport by unfairly disadvantaging honest athletes and it trashes the spirit of fair play and competition which is prized by spectators and participants.

"There's nothing sporting about doping. It only cheats the sports fans and the athletes that are playing by the rules.

"Australia has always been a pioneer and world leader in the global effort to stamp out doping in sport and this new agreement will continue to ensure fairness and integrity is upheld."

Federal Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice Jason Clare said the joint agreement to share intelligence would protect the integrity of Australian sport, adding "around the globe we are seeing evidence that the criminal world is infiltrating sport and influencing results.

"Sport is an important part of the Australian way of life. Intelligence sharing between the ACC and ASADA will help stop the criminals and drug cheats who think they can beat the system."

The incorporation of investigations and intelligence capabilities into ASADA's legislation in 2006 mean that it has the ability to conduct comprehensive investigations into allegations of doping in Australian sport.

Since 2006, about one-third of Australian athletes entered onto the Register of Findings for an anti-doping rule violation were caught as a direct result of ASADA's intelligence and investigations capability.

ASADA is Australia's national anti-doping organisation and offers one of the most fully integrated anti-doping frameworks in the world. Its work involves sample collection, education, investigation, presentation of cases at hearings, sanction recommendations and the development, approval and monitoring of sporting organisations' anti-doping policies.

The ACC has the primary responsibility for combating nationally significant organised crime in Australia. It works with its partners across law enforcement, national security, government and industry - delivering national criminal intelligence and specialised investigative capabilities. The ACC's work provides a unique and valuable understanding of serious and organised crime, necessary to identify, disrupt and prevent the threats of most harm to the community.

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