A new anti-doping agency and a national sports tribunal are to be established to beef up Australia’s commitment to drug-free sport.
Minister for Sport, Senator Bridget McKenzie has announced that the new agency Sport Integrity Australia is to be set up over the next two years, combining the activities of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), the Department of Health’s National Integrity of Sport Unit and the national sports integrity functions of Sport Australia.
The new National Sports Tribunal would be created to hear anti-doping rule violations and other sports disputes.
Senator McKenzie said the reforms would help safeguard the integrity of Australian sport, combating present, emerging and future threats from doping, match-fixing, illegal betting, organised crime and corruption, ensuring the public could enjoy sports environments free of abuse, discrimination and harassment.
“We are reassuring the hundreds of thousands of Australians who are involved in sport at every level — from grassroots to elite — that they can be confident their sport is better protected from doping, drug use, match-fixing and criminal exploitation of athletes and events,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Sport Integrity Australia will fulfil the role of Australia’s national anti-doping organisation and will require the ongoing support of the sports sector,” she said.
“ASADA will receive ongoing funding over the next two years in the lead-up to the Agency’s formal establishment.”
Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton said that transnational, serious and organised crime, including the infiltration and exploitation of sport, threatened the safety, security and trust of Australian citizens, the prosperity of businesses and economy, the integrity of institutions, and ultimately our way of life.
The Ministers said the reforms were in response to last year’s wide ranging Review of Australia’s Sports Integrity Arrangements chaired by NSW Law Reform Commissioner James Wood.
The reforms were welcomed by Sport Australia with Chair, John Wylie saying they represented a strong, single focus.
“The establishment of Sport Integrity Australia … will help protect Australians participating in sport from grassroots to high performance,” Mr Wylie said.
“This will complement the work of Sport Australia.
“The work we are doing in partnership with our national sporting organisations focuses on leadership, culture and governance — key factors in ensuring the integrity of our sports system for our young, community based athletes and for our sporting heroes,” Mr Wylie said.
