7 Feb 2013

Widespread use of banned drugs found in Australian sport

2:12 pm on 7 February 2013

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

The Australian Crime Commission has 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 says the links may have resulted in match-fixing and fraudulent manipulation of betting markets.

The ACC says illicit drug use by professional athletes is more prevalent than had been indicated by sports drugs testing programmes and found in some cases players were being administered substances which are untested or not yet approved for human use.