Cycling Australia welcomes ASADA

The creation of a new independent anti-doping body in Australia, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), was announced this Wednesday by the Federal Minister for Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp. ASADA's mandate will be to investigate doping allegations against athletes and, where appropriate, prepare and present cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other sports tribunals.

The move was welcomed by Cycling Australia's CEO, Graham Fredericks, who said: "Cycling Australia fully supports the initiative announced today by Senator Kemp. We have actively supported this concept from the start, and are pleased the Minister has incorporated into the functions of the new body measures included in our submissions.

"We commend the strong and unwavering support of the Federal Government in ensuring a level playing field for our athletes and Cycling Australia has been and remains fully committed to stamping out the use of banned substances in our sport.

Added Fredericks: "We believe this new body will greatly help that endeavour. Not only where an athlete has tested positive to a banned substance, but in more subjective cases where investigation is required to obtain proof of breaches of the Anti-Doping Policy."