Australia to crack down on drug cheats

Tuesday 02 November 1999 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Drug cheats at next year's Sydney Olympics will face fines of £40,000 and up to five years in jail if they smuggle performance-enhancing drugs into Australia.

Drug cheats at next year's Sydney Olympics will face fines of £40,000 and up to five years in jail if they smuggle performance-enhancing drugs into Australia.

The country's customs minister Amanda Vanstone said the government would double its current fines and introduce prison terms for offenders.

The Australian Olympic Committee President, John Coates, welcomed a move he had called 14 months ago and said authorities should strictly enforce the new laws.

"Evidence from past Olympic Games is that drugs are stockpiled in the lead-up period to the Games," he said.

"Whilst there exists the possibility that this stockpiling may have already started, immediate implementation and effective enforcing of these new laws will go a long way to ensuring that drugs will not be available to athletes."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in