Page 1752 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 17 October 1989
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There have been instances, even in Canberra, in which allegations have been made in relation to a few sports, that drugs were taken to illegally enhance one's performance, and indeed that does bring it very close to home. It is not something that does not happen in the ACT; there have been allegations that it has occurred, even in this fairly provincial area. So it is something that concerns us when we look at sport.
I note it appears to be the Government's policy that it wants drug-free sport and it wishes, according to the Minister, to establish programs for elite and developing athletes in the ACT Academy of Sport, including formal policies on the use of prohibited doping practices in the ACT. It opposes, as I am sure we all do, drugs in sport. Indeed, the statement lists encouragements and the desirability of encouraging drug-free sports.
It talks about an anti-drugs register being established for the ACT, for ACT athletes to publicly declare that they oppose the use of banned substances in sport and that they will not use any prohibited doping practices. This is all very commendable. I note the Federal Government has announced similar incentives, and that is to be applauded.
I just draw the Assembly's attention - and I note the Minister is not here but no doubt he can read about it, and I am happy to supply him with further details if he does not have them already - to one particular group which recently approached me and which is very concerned about drugs in sport - - -
Mr Berry: Look out behind you, Bill.
MR STEFANIAK: Sorry, Wayne, I did not hear that.
Mr Berry: Look out behind you.
Mrs Nolan: He is behind you.
MR STEFANIAK: Good. That is the Canberra Amateur Drug Free Powerlifting Association. This is a group which specifically, in its constitution, renounces drugs in sport. It is particularly concerned with the rather bad reputation that powerlifting has internationally and nationally. It has a declaration which its athletes have to sign, firstly, that they have not taken any chemical or pharmaceutical substances listed on the banned substance schedules of the International Olympic Committee during 24 calendar months immediately prior to making the declaration; secondly, that they adhere to the concept of drug-free sport and will undertake no action which might bring either the concept of drug-free sport or the Australian Drug Free Powerlifting Federation or the Canberra Amateur Drug Free Powerlifting Association into disrepute; thirdly, that they authorise the Australian Drug Free Powerlifting Federation and the Canberra affiliate to conduct drug testing of themselves at any time or any place
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