Sports Minister Kemp’s words today: “if people don’t abide by the rules they’ll be caught,” ring very hollow, considering the complete lack of action on his part over the cycling doping scandal until Labor prompted him to investigate properly.
If the Minister had ordered DNA testing of syringes and vials found in December 2003, this whole debacle would have been cleared up when he was first alerted to the fact that banned substances had been found at an AIS residential premises. Now, a fortnight before the opening ceremony, the debacle continues.
Senator Kemp’s attempts to catch drug cheats have been lack-lustre indeed.
If it was not for questions regarding this very serious matter being raised by Labor Senator John Faulkner in Parliament in June, this whole issue would have been swept under the carpet.
Drugs, such as the equine growth hormone found at Del Monte, are not detectable under current testing regimes. That is the whole problem, and that is the reason the Minister should have acted with additional purpose and determination in this instance.
John Howard’s ill-chosen words today when he ruled out involving himself in the drugs in sport scandal: “So I think for the Prime Minister to inject himself is probably not a good thing”, shows that he is desperately trying to distance himself from his Sports Minister.
But the Howard Government’s negligence on drugs in sport means that a cloud still hangs over the cycling team a fortnight before the Olympics opening ceremony
For more than a year the Minister has promised an independent investigative body. A Labor Government has made the commitment to put in place immediately a Sports Doping Ombudsman who will be an independent person to whom athletes, players, coaches, officials, members of the public and sports organisations can refer complaints pertinent to doping allegations, and be assured that those complaints or allegations will be investigated fairly and independently without fear of legal or other repercussions.
Minister Kemp, when will you follow Labor’s lead and finally get tough on drug cheats?
Contact: Kate Roffey – (02) 6277 3334 or 0417 148 059
