World Anti-Doping Agency "Alarmed" by Australia Report

The president of the World Anti-Doping Agency says he is "alarmed but not surprised" by a report showing widespread doping in Australian sport.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

Sports

Topics

Pro Sports

People

Greg Inglis, John Fahey, Johnathan Thurston

Places

Australia

Transcript

A new report from the Australian government says doping is "widespread" among the country's athletes. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN FAHEY, PRESIDENT OF WORLD ANTI DOPING AGENCY (WADA), SAYING: "Look, I'm alarmed at the enormity of the problem as the report itself indicated and as the information that's come out during the day clearly shows. Surprised, no. This is the sort of thing that surfaced in other parts of the world, where we've been told time and again through our work and Interpol - and with Interpol - that the providers and suppliers of the illegal drugs, the performance-enhancing drugs and even those involved in match-fixing, that underworld is one and the same." The report by the Australian Crime Commission found organised crime was involved in the trade of illicit performance-enhancing drugs for professional and amateur athletes. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE (NRL) NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS PLAYER, JOHNATHAN THURSTON, SAYING: "As a player, as a fan of the game I certainly want to see our game clean." (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE (NRL) SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS PLAYER, GREG INGLIS, SAYING: "For this to come out, like I say, it's a big shock for myself and everyone involved." The findings of the report came from a one-year investigation, including 30 secret hearings where witnesses were compelled to give evidence.