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Australia's doping scandal has smashed our sun-kissed sporting image Australia's doping scandal has smashed our sun-kissed sporting image
(35 minutes later)
Could it get any worse?Could it get any worse?
Australia, land of the baggy green cap and the "fair go", has found herself up to the neck in a quagmire of systemic doping and match fixing. Australia, land of the baggy green cap and the "fair go", has found herself up to the neck in a quagmire of systemic doping and match‑fixing.
Until now the closest we've come to a drugs controversy was when Shane Warne admitted using his mother's diuretic pills after a night out on the town. Or the time Ian "Thorpedo" Thorpe was questioned about his size 17 feet because German swim officials were suspicious they were the product of growth hormones.Until now the closest we've come to a drugs controversy was when Shane Warne admitted using his mother's diuretic pills after a night out on the town. Or the time Ian "Thorpedo" Thorpe was questioned about his size 17 feet because German swim officials were suspicious they were the product of growth hormones.
Australia's sporting image has long been that of the sun-kissed, clean-skin; the national identity underpinned by the pantheon of its greats: Donald Bradman, Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, the list goes on.Australia's sporting image has long been that of the sun-kissed, clean-skin; the national identity underpinned by the pantheon of its greats: Donald Bradman, Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, the list goes on.
Equally entrenched is the nation's on-field winning insolence over the years: inspired, driven even by the David and Goliath notion of beating the bigger guy and smirking as English cricketers beat themselves up psychologically in an Ashes series before Tony Greig had even finished his pitch report.Equally entrenched is the nation's on-field winning insolence over the years: inspired, driven even by the David and Goliath notion of beating the bigger guy and smirking as English cricketers beat themselves up psychologically in an Ashes series before Tony Greig had even finished his pitch report.
But now the glow of hundreds of sun-tanned afternoons at the SCG has given way to what one official described as the "blackest day in Australian sport". The results of a 12-month Crime Commission investigation have not only revealed doping in multiple sports and codes but lifted the lid on match fixing and systemic and entrenched links between sporting administrators and organised crime. But now the glow of hundreds of sun-tanned afternoons at the SCG has given way to what one official described as the "blackest day in Australian sport". The results of a 12-month Crime Commission investigation have not only revealed doping in multiple sports and codes but lifted the lid on match-fixing and systemic and entrenched links between sporting administrators and organised crime.
"I think we have been seduced by the romantic nature of sport," said Richard Ings, former head of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority:"I think we have been seduced by the romantic nature of sport," said Richard Ings, former head of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority:
"There has been a belief with some sports and even with some officials that doping just would not take place in Australian sport and if it did it was isolated and sporadic. I doubted those claims, the evidence pointed contrary to those claims … the fact is it is a widespread issue. This is not a black day in Australian sport, this is the blackest day in Australian sport."
"There has been a belief with some sports and even with some officials that doping just would not take place in Australian sport and if it did it was isolated and sporadic. I doubted those claims, the evidence pointed contrary to those claims … the fact is it is a widespread issue. This is not a black day in Australian sport, this is the blackest day in Australian sport."
History shows that Australia – where sport is often referred to as the national religion – has a bit of form when it comes to downplaying controversy. We tend to adopt the high moral ground, relying on the self-belief that we're cleaner, better, fairer than everyone else. We still can't forget the 1932-33 Bodyline series with its evil villain the English captain Douglas Jardine and his lackey Harold Larwood, and we railed against the injustice when our sprint star Raelene Boyle found out she had been cheated of two gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics by what was later revealed to be an East German state-sponsored doping programme.History shows that Australia – where sport is often referred to as the national religion – has a bit of form when it comes to downplaying controversy. We tend to adopt the high moral ground, relying on the self-belief that we're cleaner, better, fairer than everyone else. We still can't forget the 1932-33 Bodyline series with its evil villain the English captain Douglas Jardine and his lackey Harold Larwood, and we railed against the injustice when our sprint star Raelene Boyle found out she had been cheated of two gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics by what was later revealed to be an East German state-sponsored doping programme.
Even when Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee won money betting against their own team in the 1981 Ashes, we dismissed it all as a bit of a lark. A little more serious – but still quickly forgotten – was a 1994 incident when Warne and team-mate Mark Waugh accepted money from a bookmaker named "John" in return for pitch and weather information. Imagine the furore if either had happened in the current climate. Even when Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee won money betting against their own team in the 1981 Ashes, we dismissed it all as a bit of a lark. A little more serious – but still quickly forgotten – was a 1994 incident when Warne and his team-mate Mark Waugh accepted money from a bookmaker named "John" in return for pitch and weather information. Imagine the furore if either had happened in the current climate.
Australian cricket, soccer and rugby league officials themselves have argued ad nauseam that there is no specific evidence of doping or cheating in their own sports. But a cast of these very same chief executives formed the grim, human backdrop at the press conference to make public the Crime Commission's findings. And the Olympics are not immune either. John Coates, the veteran Australian Olympic Committee chief, warned that "the gloves are now off" there too: "I urge our member sports to get involved with the other codes. Olympic sports would be naive to think their sport is immune from the scourge of doping and illegal betting."Australian cricket, soccer and rugby league officials themselves have argued ad nauseam that there is no specific evidence of doping or cheating in their own sports. But a cast of these very same chief executives formed the grim, human backdrop at the press conference to make public the Crime Commission's findings. And the Olympics are not immune either. John Coates, the veteran Australian Olympic Committee chief, warned that "the gloves are now off" there too: "I urge our member sports to get involved with the other codes. Olympic sports would be naive to think their sport is immune from the scourge of doping and illegal betting."
This will be music to the ears of Thorpe, who made such an impact as a BBC commentator during last summer's Olympic Games in London. In his autobiography, This Is Me, he argues that the uncovering of illicit drug use in any sport can be a positive development because it helps clean up a minority of cheats for the good of the many:This will be music to the ears of Thorpe, who made such an impact as a BBC commentator during last summer's Olympic Games in London. In his autobiography, This Is Me, he argues that the uncovering of illicit drug use in any sport can be a positive development because it helps clean up a minority of cheats for the good of the many:
"If someone is caught … then it should be seen as a good thing; not a reason to cast aspersions on all swimmers but evidence that officials are alert and on their game."
"If someone is caught … then it should be seen as a good thing; not a reason to cast aspersions on all swimmers but evidence that officials are alert and on their game."
Unfortunately, on this occasion that old Aussie saying, "She'll be right, mate" simply doesn't ring true. Unfortunately, on this occasion that old Aussie saying, "She'll be right, mate", simply doesn't ring true.
Paola Totaro is the London-based Europe correspondent for the Age and the Sydney Morning HeraldPaola Totaro is the London-based Europe correspondent for the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald