Report: banned drugs prevalent in Australian sport

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- A government investigation has unearthed widespread use of banned drugs and links with organized crime in Australian sports.

The Australian Crime Commission released the findings of the yearlong ''Project Aperio'' on Thursday, saying there was evidence of match fixing, widespread use of prohibited substances, including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs, and the infiltration of organized criminal groups in the distribution of performance- and image-enhancing drugs.

''The findings are shocking and will disgust Australian sports fans,'' Justice Minister Jason Clare said. ''Multiple athletes from a number of clubs in major Australian sporting codes are suspected of currently using or having used peptides.''

Illicit drug use by professional athletes was more prevalent than had been indicated by sports drugs testing programs, the report stated, adding that some coaches, sports scientists and support staff of elite athletes have orchestrated and/or condoned the use of prohibited substances.

The ACC said it could not disclose publicly the details of individuals or sports involved, but had given classified briefings to administrators of some sports or clubs. It has referred its findings of suspected criminal activity to the Australian Federal Police and state police forces.

The release of the report comes in the same week that Australian Football League club Essendon asked authorities to investigate the use of certain supplements in its 2012 fitness program, and European police agency Europol revealed evidence of hundreds of cases of match fixing in soccer around the world.

The ACC report found that professional sport in Australia is highly vulnerable to ''infiltration by organized crime.''

Sports Minister Kate Lundy said the government was moving to introduce tough new measures to crack down on the use of banned drugs and unethical behavior in sport.

''If you want to dope and cheat, we will catch you,'' Lundy said. ''If you want to fix a match, we will catch you. And as you can see by the investigations that have taken place, that we are well on the way to seeking out and hunting down those who will dope and cheat.''

The government has strengthened the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency's investigative powers, investigative resources and budget to tackle the problem.

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Report: banned drugs prevalent in Australian sport