Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Federal Minister for Sport Kate Lundy calls for Cycling Australia review

Federal Minister for Sport Kate Lundy calls for Cycling Australia review
October 20, 2012

Federal Minister for Sport Kate Lundy has called for an exhaustive review of Cycling Australia and is considering giving Australia's anti-doping agency enhanced investigative powers to clean up the sport.

Following revelations from the US doping authority about the use of drugs in cycling, Senator Lundy has asked the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to brief her on whether its testing and investigation regime is strong enough.
Senator Lundy says she has asked the authority to provide her advice as soon as possible, stating "I have every confidence I'll receive that advice from ASADA soon.

"The most important thing is restoring confidence in the sport of cycling.

"Unfortunately these revelations have shocked people involved in that sport to the very core, not lease because of the role that Lance Armstrong appears to have played."

It comes as disgraced seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong made his first public appearance in the US since he was officially named a doping ringleader.

Senator Lundy says everything must be done to clean up the sport adding "I think the revelations of late have been devastating both for the fans of the sport of cycling and participants who've long held people they've perceived as genuine heroes in such high esteem to find out all along, there's so many people out there cheating through doping."

Cycling Australia Vice-President Stephen Hodge resigned yesterday after admitting to being a drug cheat for six years during his professional cycling career, including during the Tour de France in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Hodge had been a Director of Cycling Australia for 13 years.

Hodge says he had to use performance enhancing drugs to remain competitive and be selected explaining "riders shouldn't be in a position to have to make these choices, and I think for me over the last few years, that's really what's been my main concern, in all the work that I have done on the Cycling Australia board is that this is not a position athletes should be in."

Earlier in the week, Cycling Australia sacked Matt White as the coordinator of the men's road team because of his admission he took drugs while a member of Lance Armstrong's cycling team.

The revelations have led to speculation that the fallout from the scandal might not have played out in full just yet.

Cycling commentator Matthew Keenan says Hodge should get some credit for coming clean, stating "the fact that he used performance-enhancing drugs reflects very poorly on the system that gave him the environment where he thought that was OK to do."

However, Keenan says taking drugs to remain competitive and be selected is still not an excuse, adding "it's an explanation to say that he had to take the drugs to stay competitive, but it's still not an excuse.

"Hodge did have options, and one of those options would simply be that maybe this is not the sport for me, and I can go to finish my university degree and become a banker, become a plumber, whatever it may be.

"He did have options. Ultimately, he is responsible for his own choices."

Keenan says not all riders were doping at that time, concluding "there's some riders during that period who had a reputation for being clean."And that is a poor reflection on the sport, that guys had a reputation for being clean, as opposed to the other way around, which indicates that Stephen Hodge certainly felt as if he was cornered and his only option to fulfil his childhood dream - ride the Tour de France, be competitive at the world championships - was to take drugs, which is an appalling position for somebody to be in."

17th October 2012 - NEW PARTNERSHIP TO TACKLE DOPING IN SPORT

2nd March 2012 - SENATOR KATE LUNDY APPOINTED FEDERAL MINISTER FOR SPORT 

1st June 2010 - HARD-HITTING MESSAGE AT THE HEART OF NEW ANTI-DOPING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

28th January 2010 - AFL WARNS GAMBLING AND DRUG CHEATS


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Ausfit

Ausfit began in 1992, providing software services to the health and fitness sector including ClubWise, a fully hosted web-based product which combines state of the art club management software,…

read more

Billing / Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

Vivaticket

As of the 1st July 2018, Enta Australasia Pty Ltd/Best Union has been rebranded as Vivaticket Pty Ltd.  Vivaticket is the ideal strategic partner for the organisation and management of your…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Sport / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

The Pool Enclosure Company

Now TPEC Pool Enclosures - see www.ausleisure.com.au/suppliers/tpec-pool-enclosures

read more

Aquatics / Design / Recreation / Venues

 
 

Anti Wave Global

Anti Wave Global is the original suppliers of top performance swim, aquatic sports, leisure and pool programming equipment. Founded in 1971, Anti Wave Global is proud of its long and tested…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Sport

 
 

Felton Industries

Felton Industries is Australia’s leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of quality outdoor furniture and has been supplying premium seating solutions for all sporting, commercial, community…

read more

Parks / Play / Recreation / Sport / Venues

 
 

Spill Station Australia

Compliant chemical storage and decanting solutions. Includes spill kits, spill containment pallets, chemical decanting decks and safety shower and eyewash equipment. See our full range of solutions

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Security / Venues

 
 

SeatGeek Asia Pacific

SeatGeek is a search engine and mobile-focused ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell tickets for live events. As of August 2018, SeatGeek has exited the Australian, New…

read more

Entertainment / Sport / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

Active World

Since 2019, Active World's development team has been delivering a comprehensive single solution that caters to the diverse requirements of successfully operated and managed leisure centres. The…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Fitness / Recreation / Technology

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business