Academic critical of Government’s drugs in sport stance
The former head of the Australian Sports Drug Agency and Mental Health Council of Australia, John Mendoza, has accused the Federal Government of engaging in a political charade with its “tough on drugs in sport” stance.
Mr Mendoza, a University of the Sunshine Coast adjunct professor, made this criticism during his address to the National Drug Strategy Conference on the Gold Coast today.
“The Government’s response to the issue of illicit drug taking by some sports people borders on hysterical,” he said.
“It bears no relationship to the evidence or nature of the problem and what to do about it.
“The government’s plan to spend nearly $21 million per annum on conducting 6,000 drug tests for illegal drugs simply does not stack up.”
Mr Mendoza said the last annual report of Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency showed the Government spent $12.9 million on all testing, education, prosecuting cases and investigations.
“Yet it is proposing to spend almost $5,200 per athlete per annum on this illicit drug testing program without any evidence that there is a widespread problem.’
He said the Government had failed to act in numerous circumstances in the past, particularly for illicit drug use in weight-lifting and cycling.
“It is simply using the recent personal tragedies of a few footballers to look tough on drugs, while it has repeatedly failed to take the decisive action required to deal with drugs in sport,” he said.