drugs in sports in austrlia
...ition they feel they need in order to win. It is our responsibility as a society to say ‘this is wrong’. The only way to accomplish this is to have every country practise a strict drug testing regime that it becomes mandatory. In Australia our laws on drug testing is firm on paper, however, this does not stop athletes from taking performance-enhancing drugs. As evident in Australian cyclists found of ‘doping’. This questions whether our law is exercised through strict regimes. Under the “Australian Sports Drug Agency Act 1990 No. 18 Sect 4”, a competitor is required by the Agency to provide a sample to detect whether the competitor has used scheduled drugs or doping methods. Under this same Act Sec 12, a competitor is entitled to have a witness of his or her choice present to oversee the process of the collection of the sample. If the competitor fails to provide a sample, they are given a written notice stating; Act Sec 12 (a) i. That the competitor has failed to comply; and ii. The competitor may, within the submission period, make submissions to the Agency to the effect that competitor had reasonable cause for failing so to comply; and iii. The Agency’s obligations under sections 14,17 and 18; and (b) Subject to subjection (2), decide whether the competitor did not have reasonable cause so to comply Again our laws show to be too lenient with notification. Under no circumstances should athletes be physically unable to supply a sample. This Section of the Act clearly does not support a strict drug-testing regime due to its leniency. The athlete’s must supply, if fail to comply, and then pull them ou...