Posted: November 7, 2005

Drugs in Sport: Commonwealth Games Federation appoints Australian Sports Drug Agency for Melbourne

The Commonwealth Games Federation today announced the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) has been awarded the contract to conduct anti-doping programs at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

President of the CGF, Mr Mike Fennell, made the announcement in Melbourne as part of a site visit to receive an update from the Games Organising Committee on preparations for the XVIII Commonwealth Games.

"We are delighted to have awarded the contract to conduct appropriate activities associated with our anti-doping program involving Athletes competing at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games to the Australian Sports Drug Agency", Mr Fennell said.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has a strict anti-doping policy designed to ensure that Athletes competing at Commonwealth Games face an even, balanced and fair playing field in accordance with the world anti-doping code.

"We are determined to have the highest calibre anti-doping program at Melbourne incorporating urine and blood sampling," Mr Fennell said.

"We are confident that ASDA will contribute significantly to this aim by delivering the strictest protocols possible, given their worldwide reputation and experience as a model national anti-doping agency."

ASDA Chief Executive Officer, Richard Ings said ASDA would be working with both the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and the CGF to implement one of the most rigorous drug testing programs in the world.

"ASDA will be working closely with both WADA and the CGF to conduct an extensive pre-games international testing program involving some 300 out of competition drug tests to complement existing anti-doping programs", Mr Ings said.

"It will also conduct over 1000 tests during the games as well as testing every Australian athlete in the Commonwealth Games team at least once in the period leading up to the Games in March next year."

Commonwealth Games Minister Justin Madden welcomed the Commonwealth Games Federation's announcement.

"ASDA will use the latest cutting edge technologies to discourage drug cheats at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games - at competition and non-competition venues," Minister Madden said.

Chief Medical Officer for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, Dr Peter Harcourt said the anti-doping regime will be the toughest in Games history.

"If you compete in Melbourne and cheat, you will get caught", Dr Harcourt said.