The Australian Government will provide $1.8 million to ensure the highest quality anti-doping testing and arrangements are in place for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
This is a win for athletes and fans alike and locks in a clean and fair Commonwealth Games.
Under the arrangements, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory (ASDTL) will provide one of the most sophisticated anti-doping programs ever at a Commonwealth Games.
We recognise that doping is a risk to athletes and a risk to the very legitimacy of the Commonwealth Games.
Athletes and spectators alike deserve to know that every effort is being taken to ensure the competition is fair.
The funding will help ensure the integrity of the Games and the health of athletes competing.
In-Games testing will cost $2.4 million, with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) contributing $2.1 million, and the Australian Government covering the outstanding amount.
This is an increase on our original commitment of $1.5 million for pre-Games testing.
A rigorous, well-resourced anti-doping program is the only way to adequately protect clean competition, as well as athlete health and welfare.
ASADA and the ASDTL are regarded as international leaders in the fight against doping, and their involvement will ensure that clean athletes have the very best shot of fair competition.
Today’s announcement brings total funding from the Federal Government for the Commonwealth Games to over $331 million – a more than doubling of the original $156 million announced.
It is yet another demonstration of the Turnbull Government’s commitment to clean sport, following the provision of $1.5 million funding in the 2016/17 budget for ASADA to conduct 750 additional tests on Australian and international athletes in the lead up to the Games.