australia drugs report

7/29/2019 Australia drugs report

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ORGANISED CRIMEAND DRUGS IN SPORTNew Generation Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs and Organised

Criminal Involvement in their use in Professional Sport


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Correspondence should be addressed to:

Cief Execuve Ocer

Australian Crime Commission

PO Box 1936 Canberra Cit

ACT 2601

Telephone:

02 6243 6666 (from witin Australia)

61 2 6243 6666 (internaonal)

Facsimile:

02 6243 6687 (from witin Australia)

61 2 6243 6687 (internaonal)

Published February 2013

Te informaon contained in tis report is produced b te Australian Crime Commission (ACC).

Commonwealt of Australia 2013.

Tis work is coprigt. Apart from an use as permied under te Coprigt Act 1968, no part ma

be reproduced b an process witout wrien permission from te Cief Execuve Ocer, Australian

Crime Commission.


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ORGANISED CRIMEAND DRUGS IN SPORTNew Generation Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs and Organised

Criminal Involvement in their use in Professional Sport


4/472AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION - ORGANISED CRIME AND DRUGS IN SPORT

OVERVIEW 4AIM AND SCOPE 5

LIMITATIONS ON DISCLOSURE OF FINDINGS 6

KEY FINDINGS 7

Nature of te treat 7

Te PIEDs market 7

Te role of organised crime 7

Use b professional atletes 8

Te role of sports sciensts, coaces and oter facilitators

9

THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT IN AUSTRALIA 10

PERFORMANCE AND IMAGE ENHANCING SUBSTANCES 12

Growt ormone releasing pepdes 13

Growt ormone variants 14

Selecve androgen receptor modulators 14

Insulin-like growt factors (IGF-1) 15

Mecano growt factor (MGF)

15

Oter substances 16

PEPTIDE AND HORMONE CONSUMERS 17

Elite atletes 17

Sub-elite atletes 18

Bodbuilders 19

An-ageing clinic clients 20

Use on animals 21

Monitoring future demand 21

SOURCES OF PEPTIDES AND HORMONES 22

Online suppliers 22

An-ageing clinics 24

Medical praconers 25

Compounding parmacies 26

Sports sciensts and ig performance sta 26

Administraon of untested substances to atletes 28

Supplement suppliers 28



ORGANISED CRIME, DRUGS AND SPORT 30

Organised criminal links 30

Organised criminal inltraon of unregulated markets 32

Inltraon troug legimate business 32

Illicit drug use and criminal associaons 33

VULNERABILITIES TO INTEGRITY MECHANISMS 34

Contractors and consultants 34

Inconsistent integrit oversigt in professional sport 35

CONCLUSION 36

APPENDIX ONE OVERVIEW OF PEPTIDES 38

APPENDIX TWO SUMMARy OF LEGAL STATUS AND STATUS IN

SPORT OF PEPTIDES AND hORMONES 40

APPENDIX ThREE SUMMARy OF PIEDs 41

ACRONyMS 43



In 2011, te Australian Crime Commission (ACC) igligted treats to te integritof professional sport and concluded tat tere was potenal for organised crime to

inltrate sport in Australia, as as occurred overseas.

Data from te ACCs 201011 Illicit Drug Data Report indicated tat te market for

Performance and Image Enancing Drugs (PIEDs) as expanded, wit record numbers

of seizures, detecons and arrests and increasing reports b users tat te were

injecng tem. Te ACC also received informaon from te Australian Sports An-

Doping Autorit (ASADA), as part of te ACCs roune monitoring of all illicit drug

markets, wic suggested a potenal treat to a number of sports from te use of new

generaon PIEDs.

In earl 2012, te ACC, wit te assistance of ASADA1, began a project to consider te

extent of use of PIEDs b professional atletes, te size of tis market and te extent of

organised criminal involvement. Tis project focused parcularl on a new form of PIEDs,

known collecvel as pepdes and ormones. Tese substances ma provide eects

similar to anabolic steroids and are considered b users to be next generaon PIEDs.

Some of tese substances are perceived b atletes to be undetectable, making tem

aracve to tose seeking to gain an unfair advantage.

Tis report provides a summar of ndings from tis project. In parcular, te ACC as

now idened use of tese substances, wic are proibited b te World An-Doping

Agenc (WADA), b professional atletes in a number of sports in Australia. Widespread

use as been idened or is suspected in a number of professional sporng codes.

In detailing te nature and extent of tis treat to te professional sporng industr

and te Australian Communit, tis report provides an important opportunit for

Government, regulator bodies and te sporng industr to address tese issues ead on.

1 Te ACC as collaborated wit ASADA trougout tis project and references to te ACC in tis report sould be

understood to impl and reect te outcomes of tis collaboraon. As te appropriate regulator agenc, ASADA will

conduct its own invesgaon of maers raised b tis project.



Te project, code named Project Aperio, was a 12-mont ACC invesgaon, supportedb ASADA and te Terapeuc Goods Administraon (TGA), wic examined te

following four ke issues:

new generaon PIEDs, tat were previousl considered to be onl used b elite

atletes and are now widel available

te involvement of organised criminal idenes and groups in te distribuon of new

generaon PIEDs

te use of WADA proibited substances b professional atletes in Australia

current treats to te integrit of professional sport in Australia.

Based on intelligence provided to te ACC, Project Aperio primaril considered two

major sporng codes in Australia and collected incidental intelligence relang to oter

sporng codes.

Tis report does not provide a compreensive summar of all relevant acvit of

concern in all sports, or all sporng clubs and francises in Australia. Rater it represents

a snapsot of te acvit, derived from te intelligence wic formed te original basis

of te inquiries and te need for te ACC to focus on te role of organised crime in te

PIEDs market. It is likel, given te level of demand for PIEDs and te diverse sources of

suppl, tat te use of WADA proibited substances is more widespread tan idened

in tis report.



Legal provisions prevent te ACC from publicl disclosing detailed informaon about te

nature of te maers contained in tis report. Tis includes te disclosure of informaon

specicall referencing plaers, clubs and an informaon tat could idenf oter

individuals involved. Parcular sporng bodies ave received classied briengs on

maers relevant to tem.

As suc, te report focuses on describing te broad nature of te acvies, treats and

vulnerabilies and includes intelligence judgements about te likel future trajector of

tese issues.



Despite being proibited substances in professional sport, pepdes and ormones are

being used b professional atletes in Australia, facilitated b sports sciensts, ig-

performance coaces and sports sta. Widespread use of tese substances as been

idened, or is suspected b te ACC, in a number of professional sporng codes in

Australia. In addion, te level of use of illicit drugs witin some sporng codes is

considered to be signicantl iger tan is recorded in ocial stascs.

Te ACC as also idened tat organised crime idenes and groups are involved in te

domesc distribuon of PIEDs, wic includes pepdes and ormones. If le uncecked,it is likel tat organised criminals will increase teir presence in te distribuon of

pepdes and ormones in Australia.

Te ACC as idened signicant integrit concerns witin professional sports in

Australia related to te use of proibited substances b atletes and increasing

associaons of concern between professional atletes and criminal idenes.

Furter ke ndings, summarised into relevant topics are outlined below.

Te PIEDs market in Australia is large and diverse, wit a wide range of substances being

used b a broad cross-secon of te communit.

PIEDs previousl considered to onl be available to elite atletes and used in

sopiscated sports doping programs due to te expense and complexit of teir

administraon, are now widel available. A igl protable and organised market as

been establised around te sourcing and suppl of new generaon PIEDs.

Te growt ormone releasing pepde (erein referred to as pepdes), ormone

and anabolic steroid markets are assessed b te ACC to be one and te same, wit

individuals tracking anabolic steroids also distribung pepdes and ormones.

Organised criminal idenes and groups are acve in te tracking of PIEDs tat are

being used b elite atletes in Australia. Organised crime groups are taking advantage

of te current legislave and regulator situaon wereb persons and enes wo

suppl certain substances to atletes wic are proibited under te WADA Code do not

commit a crime in Australian jurisdicons. however, atletes wo use te substances

face substanal sporng bans. Tis is a signicant legislave and regulator vulnerabilit.



Professional sport in Australia is igl vulnerable to organised criminal inltraon

troug legimate business relaonsips wit sports francises and oter associaons.

Tis is facilitated b a lack of appropriate levels of due diligence b sporng clubs and

sports governing bodies wen entering into business arrangements.

Tere is also increasing evidence of personal relaonsips of concern between

professional atletes and organised criminal idenes and groups.

Te ACC as idened widespread use of

pepdes and ormones b professional

atletes in Australia. Given tat man of

tese substances are proibited for use b

atletes b WADA, atletes wo use tese

substances ave potenall commied

an-doping rule violaons.

Wile intelligence conrms te use of

pepdes in major sporng codes, it furter

suggests tat individuals in a range of oter

codes ma also be using pepdes.

Mulple plaers across some sporng codes and specic clubs witin tose codes

are suspected of currentl using or aving previousl used pepdes, wic could

constute an an-doping rule violaon. Te level of suspected use of pepdes varies

between some sporng codes, owever ocials from a club ave been idened as

administering, via injecons and intravenous drips, a variet of substances, possibl

including pepdes. Moreover, te substances were administered at levels wic were

possibl in breac of WADA an-doping rules.

Te use of pepdes and ormones is linked to a culture in some professional sports in

Australia of administering untested and experimental substances to atletes in te ope

te will provide an advantage in te igl compeve world of professional sport. In

some instances, te substances are not et approved for uman use.In addion to elite atletes using pepdes and ormones, tese substances are also

being used b sub-elite atletes compeng at various levels of compeon, for example

at te state and club level.

Illicit drug use b professional atletes is more prevalent tan is reected in ocial

sports drug tesng program stascs, and tere is evidence tat some professional

atletes are exploing loopoles in illicit drug tesng programs.



Some coaces, sports sciensts and support sta of elite atletes ave orcestrated and/

or condoned te use of proibited substances and/or metods of administraon.

Sports sciensts are now inuenal in professional sport in Australia, wit some of tese

individuals prepared to administer substances to elite atletes wic are untested or not

et approved for uman use.

In man Australian sporng codes, sports sciensts ave gained increasing inuence over

decision making witin te clubs. Some sports sciensts and doctors are experimenng

on professional sportspersons in an eort to determine if parcular substances can

improve performance witout being detected.

Complicit medical praconers are a ke conduit troug wic pepdes and ormonesare being supplied to atletes and oter individuals on prescripon. In some cases,

medical praconers wo are prescribing pepdes, ormones and oter PIEDs are

engaging in lax, fraudulent and unetical prescribing pracces, suc as prescribing

controlled drugs in false names.

Some an-ageing clinics ave been idened as a ke source of suppl of parmaceucal

grade WADA proibited PIEDs to atletes, in some cases witout prescripon.



Internaonall and domescall, sport as become a igl protable global enterprise.

Based on te latest available Australian Bureau of Stascs data,2 in 2006 te total

annual income generated b te sport and recreaon industr in Australia was esmated

at A$8.82 billion, a gure wic will ave

grown substanall since ten. Apart from

te direct contribuon of sport to te

Australian econom, tere is intangible

value from te success of Australian

teams and atletes on te internaonal

stage and te abilit to sowcase Australia

on te internaonal stage wen it osts

major events.

Te concept of fair pla is a ke

foundaon for amateur and professional

sport in Australia. The Essence of

Australian Sport,3 a document produced last ear b te Australian Sports Commission

(ASC) in consultaon wit te sports industr, provides a statement on wat sport in

Australia stands forits core principles and values.

Tis document notes: Australians are proud of teir sporng abilit and reputaon as

a naon of good sports, and our societ expects ig standards of beaviour from all

people involved in sport.4

Te ACC and ASADA ave idened signicant issues in professional and sub-elite sport

in Australia wic undermine te principles of fair pla as a direct consequence of te

use of PIEDs.

Te importance of fairness is idened as one of te ke principles in The Essence of

Australian Sport. Te document states tat plaers of sport at all levels sould strive to

upold te principles of fairness and operate in te spirit of te rules, never taking an

unfair advantage, and making informed and onourable decisions at all mes.

It goes on to state: ...it is vital tat te integrit of sport is maintained. Te main

responsibilit for tis lies wit decision makers at ever level of sport, wo sould ensure

2 Australian Bureau of Stascs (ABS) 2006, Sport and psical recreaon services, Australia-200405, ABS, Canberra.

3 Te Australian Sports Commission (ASC) 2012, Te essence of Australian sport, Canberra, n.d., viewed 20 November

2012, .

4 ibid., p.2.



tat all policies, programs and services are based on te principles of fairness, respect,

responsibilit and safet.5

Apart from te potenal impact on spectators and teir loss of fait in sport arising from

integrit issues around te use of proibited substances, te increasing link between

sports and wagering markets means te issues idened b te ACC and ASADA also

ave major implicaons for te integrit of sports beng markets. Individuals and teams

engaged in te use of proibited substances ave an unfair advantage, wic can be

exploited b persons wit inside informaon.

Wile tere is a long istor of beng on sports, te market as expanded

signicantl in recent ears wit growt of up to 13 per cent annuall. Beng on

racing6 remains te largest beng market in Australia, increasing 69 per cent between

200001 and 201011. Wagering on oter sports increased b 278 per cent over te

same period.7

5 ibid., p.2.

6 Racing includes torougbred orse racing, and arness and greound racing.

7 In 200001, of te esmated A$12.8 billion wagered on racing and oter sports in Australia, A$880 million was

wagered on sports oter tan racing. In 201011, A$23.5 billion was wagered on racing and sports in Australia, wit

A$3.3 billion being wagered on sports oter tan racing; Australian Racing Board Limited 2011,Australian Racing Fact

Book; A guide to the Racing Industry in Australia , Australian Racing Board, Sdne.



Te principal substances idened troug Project Aperio as being used were:

growt ormone releasing pepdes (CJC-1295, GhRP-2, GhRP-6 and hexarelin)

growt ormone variants (AOD-9604)

selecve androgen receptor modulators (SARMs)

insulin like growt factor (IGF-1) and mecano growt factor (MGF).

For te purposes of tis report, tese substances will be collecvel referred to as

pepdes and ormones. A summar of te legal status and status of tese substances in

professional sport is detailed in Appendix Two.

Te Australian PIEDs market as expanded rapidl in recent ears. Tis is evidenced b:

increased border seizures, wit te number of PIEDs detected at te Australian

border rising from 2695 in 200910 to 5561 in 201011, a 106 per cent

increase, and te igest recorded number of PIEDs detecons at te border in

te last decade8

an increase of 255 per cent between 200910 and 201011 in te number of

ormones detected at te Australian border b te Australian Customs andBorder Protecon Service

te igest number on record of naonal steroid seizures and arrests in

201011 b Australian law enforcement agencies9

an increasing number of individuals reporng te injecon of PIEDs

more tan alf of te males wo were new to injecng in 2011 were reportedl

injecng PIEDs.10

Wile anabolic steroids remain te most widel recognised PIEDs, an arra of drugs

tat were originall developed for te treatment of medical and ormonal disorders bmanipulang te bods ormonal sstem are now also being used as PIEDs.

8 Australian Crime Commission (ACC) 2012,Australian Illicit Drug Report 201011, ACC, Canberra.

9 ibid.

10 Universit of New Sout Wales (UNSW) 2012,Australian NSP Survey: Naonal Data Report 20072011, UNSW, Sdne.



In recent ears, pepdes ave become increasingl popular among professional

and amateur atletes, bodbuilders, and as a fountain of out witin te

an-ageing fraternit.

Growt ormone releasing pepdes smulate release of an increased level of uman

growt ormone (Gh), wic as a istor of misuse b atletes and ma pla an

important role in muscle and bone growt.

Wile pepdes can be used on teir own to promote muscle growt, tese substances

are also used in combinaon wit anabolic steroids to maintain muscle gains.

Pepdes ave become popular wit elite atletes given te abilit of tese substances

to smulate Gh producon, resulng in possible anabolic eects. Anecdotal reports

suggest pepdes assist in reabilitang so ssue injuries. however, bot tereabilitave properes and broader benets of pepdes to atletes (wo tpicall ave

iger levels of Gh) are et to be sciencall proven.

Pepdes are also marketed as an an-ageing medicine given teir abilit to increase Gh

levels and compensate for te natural decline in Gh associated wit ageing.11

From an an-doping perspecve, te abilit to detect pepde use is complex, as tese

substances are rapidl metabolised.

Pepdes are classied as a Scedule 2 (S2) proibited substance on te WADA Proibited

List and are terefore proibited for use b professional atletes bot in and out ofcompeon. Pepdes ave been a WADA proibited substance since at least 2008.

As noted previousl, te principal pepdes idened b te ACC and ASADA as being

misused in bot professional sports and te broader populaon are:

CJC-1295

GhRP-6

hexarelin.

Pepdes are sold eiter as a transdermal cream or in a soluon for injecon as per te

examples in Figure 1. As sown in Figure 1, te soluon for injecon clearl states on te

label tat tese substances are For Researc Purposes Onl. A compreensive overview

of te various pepdes currentl being used in Australia is provided in Appendix Two and

Appendix Tree.

11 Gh levels peak during cildood and adolescence and ten consistentl decrease troug adultood.



FIGURE 1: GhRP-6 transdermal cream (on le) and GhRP-6 soluon for injecon (on rigt)

Most pepdes are listed under Scedule 7A Item 3 of te Customs (Proibited Imports)

Regulaons 1956. Furter, under Regulaon 5 of tese Regulaons, Scedule 7Asubstances are classied as proibited imports unless te importer as a permit to

import issued b te TGA.

AOD-9604 is a variant of growt ormone wic as fat burning properes and ma be

used b atletes to increase power to weigt raos b beer ulisaon of fat stores.

AOD-9604 is about to enter pase tree clinical trials.12 During pase two clinical trials it

was also found to ave an anabolic eect on carlage ssue and ma promote carlage

creaon and repair and ave a capacit to enance muscle formaon.13

AOD-9604 is not currentl a WADA proibited substance.

Unlike testosterone wic as anabolic and androgenic14 eects, Selecve Androgen

Receptor Modulators (SARMs) appear to onl act on anabolic receptors tat cause ssue

(bone and muscle) growt. Tis causes a low tendenc for undesirable androgenic side

eects wic include te development of male caracteriscs in females and baldness

and breast ssue development in males (gnecomasa).

12 Pase III clinical trials involve greater numbers of paents and are undertaken for te purpose of determining

weter te medicine confers clinical benet in te disease/s for wic eecveness was demonstrated in Pase II

clinical trials. Te also determine te nature and likeliood of an side eects. Pase III clinical trials are undertaken

if te Pase II clinical trials indicate te medicine as potenal benet tat outweigs te azards.

13 Calzada ASX announcement (Calzada) 2012,AOD9604 Shows Posive Results in Carlage and Muscle Repair Models,

viewed 24 Januar 2013, .

14 Androgenic side eects of steroid use include acne, musculoskeletal injuries, cardiovascular disease, impaired liver

funcon and gnecomasa.



Te use of SARMs b elite atletes is well documented, wit tese substances believed

to ave been widel used since at least 2008. Wit te availabilit of suitable standards,

some SARMs can be detected. SARMs are reported to be used in combinaon wit oter

PIEDs, including Gh. SARMs are classied as a Scedule 1 (S1)-anabolic agent on teWADA Proibited List and are a proibited substance for elite atletes bot in and out of

compeon.

Te sceduling of SARMs was recentl considered b te TGAs Advisor Commiee on

Medicines and Sceduling, wic determined tat SARMs will be classied as a Scedule

4 medicine and included in Appendix D in

te Standard for te Uniform Sceduling

of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) (Te

Poisons Standard). Tis will make it illegal

to possess SARMs witout legal autorit(troug prescripon). Tis cange in

sceduling will take eect on 1 Ma 2013.

IGF-1 is a ormone secreted b te liver

and is one of te primar ormones

necessar for cell growt in te bod.

Atletes use IGF-1 for its anabolic eect in muscle and to facilitate te development

of carlage and bone. In man cases, atletes will use Gh and IGF-1 in small doses to

reduce te cances of returning a posive an-doping sample.

MGF is derived from IGF-1 and assists ssue repair and adaptaon. It is expressed as

a pulse following muscle damage (suc as aer weigt training) and is believed to be

essenal for repair and growt of new cells. MGF is used b bodbuilders due to its role

in muscle repair following exercise.

Under te Poisons Standard, IGF-1 possesses te same status as anabolic steroids and is

a Scedule 4 medicine, wit te addional control tat possession witout autorit is

illegal (for example possession oter tan in accordance wit a legal prescripon). IGF-1

and MGF are S2 proibited substances on te WADA Proibited List and are terefore

proibited for use b professional atletes bot in and out of compeon.



Te ACC as idened te use of a range of oter substances b elite atletes,

bodbuilders and oter users, some of wic are prescripon onl medicines. A

summar of tese substances is provided below:

Substance efct Regulatory Status

Ipamorelin A pepde tat provides a

possible anabolic eect

Customs Proibited Import

S2 of WADA proibited substances

Sermorelin A pepde tat provides a

possible anabolic eect

Customs Proibited Import


Melanotan Tanning agent and aprodisiac Scedule 4 in te Poisons Standard

PT-141 Tanning agent and aprodisiac Scedule 4 in te Poisons Standard

Follistan Promotes muscle growt Scedule 4 in te Poisons

Standard. Addionall, possession

witout legal autorit is illegal

S4 (ormone and metabolic

modulators) of WADA proibited

substances

Tmosin (TB-500) Injur recover Not regulated




A diverse group of individuals as been idened as users of pepdes and ormones.

however, users can be categorised into tree main groups:

elite and sub-elite atletes

bodbuilders

an-ageing clinic clients.

Te ACC as also idened te administraon of pepdes and ormones to

torougbred raceorses, wic is a breac of te Rules of Racing.

Widespread use of pepdes as been idened, or is suspected b te ACC, in a number

of professional sporng codes in Australia. Altoug te use of pepdes appears to be

more widespread in some major codes, individuals from a number of oter sports are also

suspected of using pepdes.

Mulple plaers (in one code) from a number of clubs are suspected of currentl using or

aving previousl used pepdes, wic could constute an an-doping rule violaon.16

Some plaers ave also been idened as sourcing pepdes for personal use. An instance

of team-based doping, orcestrated b some club ocials and coacing sta, as also been

idened.

Apart from te pepdes anabolic eects, it as been found tat injured elite atletes,

parcularl plaers from one sporng code, ave been using pepdes to assist in

reabilitang so ssue injuries.

Wile te level of suspected use of pepdes varies between sporng codes, ocials

from one club ave been idened as administering, via injecons and intravenous drips,

a variet of substances, possibl including pepdes. Moreover, te substances were

administered at levels wic were possibl in breac of WADA an-doping rules. Tis

acvit was orcestrated b some club ocials and te clubs ig performance unit.

Wile intelligence conrms te use of pepdes in major sporng codes, it furter suggests

tat individuals in a range of oter codes ma also be using pepdes.

15 For te purposes of tis report, elite atletes are deemed to be tose atletes wo are compeng in a recognised

major compeon in Australia or wo are represenng Australia or wo are receiving pament and are considered to

be professional atletes.

16 Te issue of weter parcular atletes ave commied an an-doping rule violaon will be determined b teformal process wic governs ASADA invesgaons of tis tpe.



Apart from te use of pepdes b elite atletes, sub-elite atletes ave also been

idened as using pepdes and ormones. Sub-elite atletes are considered a ig-risk

group for doping due to:

te igl compeve environment in aaining a posion in elite sport

te abilit to make signicant gains in strengt and power troug te

use of PIEDs.

Pepdes and ormones ave been idened as being used at te sub-elite level in a

number of sporng codes. Given te ease wit wic te various pepdes and ormones

can be obtained, an movated sub-elite atlete is capable of acquiring and using tese

substances as illustrated in Case Stud 1.

Te fact tat PIEDs use is occurring at te sub-elite leveland it is from tese ranks

tat elite atletes are selectedmeans tere is a treat to te integrit of professional

sport in Australia.

On 14 October 2010, Customs and Border Protecon intercepted a

package from Canada wic contained ten, ve milligram vials of wite

powder labelled GhRP-6. Subsequent inquiries b ASADA idened te

addressee as a rugb union plaer in a state club rugb compeon.

On 28 November 2010, Customs and Border Protecon intercepted apackage from Canada addressed to anoter individual from te same team.

Tis package contained ve vials of wat was believed to be GhRP-6.

Altoug it was not able to be establised in te invesgaon, ASADA

assessed it as possible tat te two individuals wo ad imported tese

substances were complicit in te importaon of GhRP-6 from Canada, and

tat oter team members of tese individuals were using GhRP-6.

Aer an extensive invesgaon b ASADA, te maer was referred to

te Australian Rugb Union as a potenal an-doping rule violaon. Te

ARU subsequentl imposed a four-ear ban on one individual for te

possession and aempted tracking of GhRP-6, and te oter individual

received a two-ear ban for possession of GhRP-6.

As demonstrated b tis example, a rigorous and lengt invesgaon is

undertaken in te administraon of an an-doping rule violaon.

CASE STUDY 1



Wile te use of anabolic steroids b bodbuilders is well establised, pepdes and

ormones ave become increasingl popular amongst bodbuilders. Given te istorical

and widespread use of proibited substances in bodbuilding, bodbuilders are oen at

te cung edge of doping trends.

Te pepdes, IGF-1, MGF and SARMs ave gained a reputaon amongst te bodbuilding

communit as being igl eecve anabolic agents and are deemed b bodbuilders

to ave a number of advantages over steroids. Tis is because users do not experience

te adverse and well recognised eects of prolonged anabolic steroid use, suc as liver

damage and disrupon of ormonal producon.

Similar to online illicit drug forums, te use of pepdes and ormones is te subject of

extensive discussion in online bodbuilding forums. Users of pepdes and ormones use

tese online forums to sare informaon on te eects, dosage and administraon of

tese substances. Individuals are also discussing ow to combine pepdes and ormones

wit anabolic steroids in stacks17 and ccles in order to increase te development of lean

muscle, wile minimising te side eects associated wit use of tese substances.

Case Stud 2 describes te perceived benets of combining use of pepdes and

anabolic steroids.

17 Steroids are tpicall used in ccles to reduce te side eects associated wit te disrupon of ormone producon

due to steroid use. Users of PIEDs also combine mulple substances in order to eigten te eects of steroids andtese combinaons are known as stacks.

A major side eect of using anabolic steroids in males is te disrupon

of normal testosterone producon, wic as tpicall required

individuals to cease using steroids in order to allow te bod to

recommence te producon of testosterone. however, on cessaon

of steroid use, individuals tpicall experience a signicant loss of te

muscle gains tat were acieved troug te use of steroids.

To maintain teir gains, steroid users tpicall ccle o steroids and

commence wat is known as a post-ccle terap (PCT). Tis is done

troug te administraon of a range of drugs suc as Nolvadex, an

an-estrogen drug, and uman corionic gonadotropin (CG).

Pepdes ave been idened b bodbuilders as igl eecve

substances for use in a PCT, tereb allowing individuals to maintain

muscular gains wile ccling o steroids.

CASE STUDY 2



Individuals involved in bodbuilding, parcularl well known bodbuilders, are plaing a

ke role in promong pepdes, increasing interest and demand for tese substances in

te bodbuilding communit and b gmnasium users.

Growt ormone-releasing pepdes ave become increasingl popular as an an-

ageing product given te abilit of tese substances to naturall smulate Gh

producon and address te normall low levels of Gh in older individuals. It is also

reported tat tese pepdes are proving to be more eecve tan Gh as te

promote te natural release of Gh as opposed to tradional Gh supplementaon

terapies. Dedroepiandrosterone18 (DhEA) and testosterone ave also become

increasingl popular as ormonal treatments to reverse te eects of ageing. 19

Te use of Gh for an-ageing purposes is considered b te TGA to be o-label,

meaning tat te drug is used outside te recognised terapeuc uses of te drug.

Wile Gh and testosterone require a prescripon from a medical praconer,

no suc requirement currentl exists for te suppl of growt ormone releasing

pepdes. Consequentl, an-ageing clinics ave become major distributors of pepdes

around Australia.

Recentl, te American Associaon of Clinical Endocrinologists20 updated teir clinical

guidelines for te use of Gh in clinical pracce following concerns about wat te

Associaon called te unetical aspects of Gh terap for atletes and ageing

individuals. Tese guidelines strongl recommend tat under no circumstances sould

Gh be prescribed unless te paent as a clearl dened medical condion (suc as

stunted growt), and tat Gh sould not be administered oter tan in accordance

wit te approved uses of Gh.

Te an-ageing industr bot overseas and in Australia as expanded signicantl in

recent ears, in line wit te increasing range of an-ageing products being released

onto te market.

18 DhEA is a steroid ormone produced in te bod. It funcons as an endogenous precursor to more potent androgens

suc as testosterone.

19 Bross, R, Storer, T, Basin, S 1999, Ageing and Muscle Loss, Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol.10 (5),

pp.194-198.

20 Specialising in endocrinolog, diabetes, and metabolism, te American Associaon of Clinical Endocrinologists is a

professional communit of psicians commied to enancing te abilit of its members to provide ig qualit

paent care.



Te ACC as idened increasing interest in te administraon of pepdes to

torougbred raceorses for te same reasons tat tese substances are used on

umansinjur reabilitaon and to promote recover. Tese substances are proibited

for use on raceorses, and altoug it is suspected tat pepdes are being administered to

raceorses te extent of use across te industr is te subject of ongoing inquiries.

Available data, including border seizures of PIEDs, naonal arrests for steroids and drug

injecng data, all suggest tat te PIEDs market is expanding considerabl in Australia.

however, in contrast to te amount of researc and knowledge tat exists on illicit drug

use, formal academic researc into te use of PIEDs and te PIEDs market in Australia is

extremel limited. Tis makes it dicult to quanf te size of and idenf canges in

te PIEDs market.

Furter researc and consideraon of te establisment of ke indicators to idenf

canges in te Australian PIEDs market would assist in addressing tis current gap.

An increase in te use of PIEDs is likel to result in te increased prevalence of injecon,

as tis is te principal route of administraon of anabolic steroids and ormones.

Increased levels of injecon ave alread been idened in te latest Needle Sringe

Program (NSP) Surve, wic reported tat wile relavel small proporons of

respondents reported last injecng PIEDs, a signicant increase in prevalence occurredover te period 2007 to 2011. Among males wo were new to injecng,21 more tan alf

(53 per cent) reported last injecng PIEDs.22

21 New to injecng is dened b te NSP stud as individuals wo ave been injecng for less tan 3 ears.

22 Universit of New Sout Wales (UNSW) 2012,Australian NSP Survey: Naonal Data Report 20072011,

UNSW, Sdne.



As illustrated in Figure 2, a igl organised network of individuals and companies are

involved in te acquision and distribuon of pepdes and ormones. Tese include:

on-line suppliers

an-ageing clinics

medical praconers

compounding parmacies

sports sciensts and ig performance sta

sports supplement suppliers.

FIGURE 2: Suppl cain from primar suppliers of pepdes and ormones troug

to consumers

Te suppl base to sasf increasing domesc demand for PIEDs is broad. PIEDs can be

easil acquired from a multude of online stores based in Australia and overseas. Online

stores oer a compreensive range of PIEDs, including anabolic steroids, DhEA, Gh,

SARMs, IGF-1 and pepdes. however, as is te case wit anabolic steroids sold online,

te qualit is potenall unreliable as te source of te products cannot be veried.

hig performance

coaces/sports sciensts

Compounding

Parmacists

Cinese Bio-Cemical

suppliers

Parmaceucal

Manufacturers

Supplement SuppliersSub-elite/Recreaonal

Atletes

On-line suppliers

(Domesc and Internaonal)Elite Atletes

Medical Praconers Bodbuilders

An-Ageing clinics

(onsite Drs and

osite Drs)

Ageing clients

Primar Sources Consumers



An example of te range of pepdes, ormones and oter substances available

online is provided below (substances wic are currentl sceduled b te TGA are

sown in italics):

CJC-1295

Follistan 344

GhRP-2

GhRP-6

hexarelin

HGH Frag 176-191

IGF DES (1-3)

IGF-1 LR3

Ipamorelin

Melanotan II

MGF

Modifed GRF 1-29

PEG-MGF

Tmosin Beta 4 (TB-500).

Products are adversed in a manner to aract a number of user markets, including:

strengt enancement/muscle enancement

an-ageing

fat loss

injur reabilitaon

libido enancement

growt ormone decienc.

A number of websites selling pepdes also oer oter prescripon onl drugs wic

target te PIED user market, suc as aromatase inibitors. Tese inibitors are used in

te treatment of breast cancer, but are also used to counter gnecomasa, wic is a

side eect of anabolic steroid use.

Te popularit of online stores as a source for pepdes and ormones is reected in

te signicant increase in border detecons of ormones, wic increased 255 per cent

between 200910 and 20102011.



Figure 3 illustrates te number of users and potenal users of pepdes and ormones

using te internet to searc for informaon on tese substances. It also illustrates te

ig level of interest in tese substances b Australians.

FIGURE 3: Searces on Google using te term GhRP between Januar 2007 and Januar

2013 sowing volume of searces, countries from wic searces emanate and related

searces conducted.

Notwitstanding te diverse sources of suppl for pepdes, te number of permits

issued b TGA to allow lawful importaon is ver low. In parcular, data obtained fromte TGA indicates tat naonall no permits for te importaon of CJC-1295 or GhRP-6

were issued in 2012 and tat in total onl six permits currentl exist for te importaon

of CJC-1295, eleven permits for GhRP-2 and tree permits for GhRP-6.

Some an-ageing clinics ave been idened b ASADA, te ACC and oter partner

agencies as a major source of pepdes, ormones and oter PIEDs, due to teir capacit

to suppl parmaceucal qualit WADA proibited PIEDs directl to atletes, in some

cases witout a prescripon.



An-ageing clinics are selling a wide range of PIEDs including testosterone, anabolic

steroids, Gh, pepdes, IGF-1, MGF and SARMs. Some of tese clinics ave been

idened as aving links to organised criminal idenes.

Atletes and bod builders ave previousl been idened b ASADA as using

an-ageing clinics to acquire testosterone, Gh and anabolic steroids. As man of

tese substancessuc as testosterone and Ghrequire a prescripon from a

medical praconer, complicit doctors ave been idened providing prescripons

to clients of an-ageing clinics, even if tere is no medical reason for te prescribing

of tese substances and te ave ad no contact wit te paent or access to teir

medical records.

In man cases, an-ageing clinics are markeng teir services directl to atletes b

oering services suc as ormone proling and ormone based training regimes to

enance atlec performance.

Te an-ageing industr bot overseas and in Australia as expanded signicantl in

recent ears, in line wit te increasing range of an-ageing products being released

onto te market.

Some medical praconers ave been idened as one of te ke conduits troug

wic individuals are obtaining PIEDs, in parcular testosterone, Gh, CJC-1295, GhRP-6

and SARMs.

Some medical praconers wo advocate te benets of pepdes and ormones for

an-ageing treatment and/or are working from an-ageing clinics, appear to be te

primar prescribers of te various pepdes and ormones used b elite and sub-elite

atletes and bod builders for teir performance and image enancing eects.

Te ACC idened doctors wo ave dispensed Gh directl to paents witout a

prescripon, wic is illegal, or troug a parmac owned b tese doctors. In tese

instances, no prescripon or record of te dispensed Gh was recorded.

Te ACC also idened lax and fraudulent prescribing pracces b some doctors wit

links to sporng clubs and an-ageing clinics. Tese pracces include wring scripts

in false names, providing prescripons witout consulng te paent and prescribing

ormones witout conducng te necessar blood tests normall carried out prior

to te prescripon of tese substances. Some of tese doctors are also implicated

in experimenng on plaers, b providing tem wit dierent substances in order to

determine te eects on teir performance.



Te ACC as idened tat an-ageing clinics, supplement suppliers and

online stores in Australia are sourcing pepdes and ormones troug domesc

compounding parmacies.

As opposed to standard parmacies, wic dispense prescripon medicines and

terapeuc agents, compounding parmacies provide a range of services in relaon to

parmaceucals suc as:

altering or liming te dose of a medicine

canging te psical form of a medicine (for example modifing a pill into a

srup or gel)

suppling compound drugs tat ave been disconnued or are no

longer available.

Compounding parmacies are a principal domesc source of pepdes and ormones

given teir capacit to produce medicines and parmaceucal compounds tat are not

readil available or commerciall produced. Given teir abilit to manufacture various

an-ageing medicines, compounding parmacies pla a ke role in te dispensing of

substances prescribed b or distributed troug an-ageing clinics.

Based on available informaon, compounding parmacies producing pepdes are

predominantl sourcing teir raw materials from wolesalers based in Cina.

Te standard of compeon at te elite level of sport as reaced a point were

winning margins are now measured in undredts of a second. Tere is an ever-

increasing focus on te science of sport in order to ensure tat atletes perform at

te igest possible standard and gain an possible compeve advantage. Remaining

compeve at te elite level is now dependent on access to te best sports sciensts

and use of te latest tecnolog.

Informaon provided to te ACC suggests tat in Australian football codes, sports

sciensts ave gained increasing inuence over decision making witin te clubs. Someof tese sciensts are plaing a crical role in pusing legal and regulator boundaries in

relaon to sport supplementaon programs and medical treatments given to plaers.

Wile it appears tat te majorit of ig performance sta, sports sciensts, coaces

and medical advisors adere to an-doping codes, it is also clearinternaonall and

domescalltat some of tese individuals are plaing a crical role in pusing beond

te boundar of wat is permied b WADA. Tis was parcularl evident in te use of

PIEDs b Lance Armstrong and is ccling teammates, were parcular doctors plaed a

crical role in te development and implementaon of te doping program.



Te ACC as idened specic ig-performance sta, sports sciensts and

coaces witin some codes wo ave condoned and/or orcestrated te administraon

of proibited substances, and substances not et approved for uman consumpon,

to plaers.

In some cases, pepdes and oter substances were administered to plaers witout

tem understanding te nature of te substances, and witout te knowledge of te

team doctor or club medical sta.

CASE STUDY 3

Te United States An-Doping Agenc (USADA) invesgaon into doping

b te American United States Postal Service and Discover Cannel

Ccling teams found overwelming evidence tat Dr Micele Ferrari

facilitated and orcestrated te sopiscated doping program for tese

teams.

Dr Ferrari provided tecnical advice to professional cclists on te use

of PIEDs and blood doping and designed doping programs tat riders

would follow in order to acieve te largest possible performance

enancement witout returning a posive an-doping result.

Dr Ferrari ad a long istor of working wit an Italian researcer,

Franceso Conconi, wo, wile being funded to develop a test for

Ertropoien (EPO),23 ad also been involved in doping professional

cclists. Ferraris expert knowledge of EPO and te tests used to detect

EPO use b professional cclists ad plaed a major role in is abilit

to provide EPO to cclists and enable te sstemic doping to remain

undiscovered.

According to te USADA invesgaon report, Lance Armstrong paid

Dr Ferrari just over US$1 million between 1996 and 2006 for is services.

23 EPO is a parmaceucal product wic as been widel used b atletes due to its abilit to

increase te amount of oxgen carried b te blood, resulng in improved endurance.



Te ACC as idened a range of substances tat ave limited to no istor of use

in umans, are not approved for uman use, or teir use is considered o-label.

Substances being administered to plaers include:

afamelanode and melanocte smulang ormone (Melanotan I and II)

AOD-9604an an-obesit drug currentl going troug uman clinic trials

Cerebrolsina pepde extract from pig brain wic is used to treat

alzeimers and stroke vicms

a form of Interleukin not proibited b WADAused in te treatment of burns

and inammaon associated wit trauma (some oter forms of Interleukin are

proibited b WADA)

TA-65a drug wic acts on a secon of te DNA and is purported to reduce

ageing at te cellular level

Actovegincalf blood extract (used b a route of administraon wic is not

proibited b WADA).

Wile tese substances are not proibited b WADA, due to a lack of long-term clinical

studies on te use of tese substances or teir o-label use, teir potenal impact on

te ealt of plaersbot sort and long-termis unknown.

Te apparent willingness of some ig-performance coaces, trainers and sports

sciensts to administer WADA-proibited and experimental drugs and teir advocac

of o-label substance use, raises concerns over te welfare of plaers wo are being

administered tese substances and broader issues for sports administrators in Australia.

It was also idened tat some ig-performance coacing sta ulised medical sta

from outside teir respecve clubs to administer substances to plaers. In some cases,

te medical sta administering tese substances were not communicang wit te

appointed team doctors nor advising team doctors of te treatments or substances

being administered to plaers. No part appeared to be maintaining compreensive

medical records in relaon to treatments being given to plaers.

Witin te Australian sports supplement market, tere is an extensive range of products

targeted at improving atlec endurance, fat loss, muscle development, draon and

recover from strenuous training sessions. In man cases, te eecveness of tese

products is et to be clinicall proven.

Professional atletes use a wide range of sport supplements to assist wit muscle

development, fat loss, draon, recover and to support immunit during strenuous

training periods. In professional sporng teams, supplement programs are developed b



sports sciensts, strengt and condioning coaces, team doctors and nutrionists.

Wile tere are a large number of sports supplement companies tat sell onl legimate

(non-proibited) sports supplements, a large number of retail and online sports

supplement stores also sell substances wic are proibited b WADA, prescripon onl

medicines and proibited imports.

Some supplement suppliers at te manufacturing, wolesale and retail level are also

involved in te sale of proibited substances. In some cases, professional atletes ave

inadvertentl consumed proibited substances due to supplements being contaminated

at te factor wic was processing bot WADA-proibited and non-proibited

supplements. In oter cases atletes ave inadvertentl used proibited substances due

to sports supplements containing undeclared ingredients.

Te ACC as idened supplement suppliers as a parcular treat to te integrit of

sport given teir read access to professional atletes and PIEDs.



According to te Director General of

WADA, te inuence of organised crime

on sport is increasing, wit criminal

groups involved in te tracking of

PIEDs also engaged in mone laundering,

corrupon, matc xing and fraud.24

Te internaonal presence of organised

criminal groups in te tracking of

PIEDs is furter supported b a 2005

assessment25 wic found tat te PIEDs

market is extensive and igl organised,

wit te Italian maa and Russian organised criminal groups just two of te criminal

groups eavil involved in tracking of PIEDs across Europe.

Te ACCs Organised Crime in Australia 201126 report idened te widespread use

of PIEDs b persons from a broad cross secon of te communit and noted tat tedistribuon of PIEDs can be igl protable.

Troug te ACC and ASADAs analsis of te pepde and ormone market, it is assessed

tat te Australian PIEDs market is larger and more complex tan previousl assessed.

Organised criminal groups and individuals are involved in te domesc tracking of

PIEDs, wit some of tese criminal idenes and groups also engaged in te tracking

of oter illicit drugs.

Te ACC considers tat organised criminal idenes and groups will expand teir

presence in te Australian pepde and ormone market. Tis is based on te ig

demand for pepdes and ormones, te igl protable nature of te market wit te

mark-up on pepdes and ormones reportedl up to 140 per cent, and te establised

presence of organised criminal idenes and groups in te steroid market bot as

distributors and users of tese substances.27

24 Alvad, S 2011, WADAs Director General strikes alarm bells against organized crime in sports, Play the Game, 23

Febraur, viewed 21 November 2011, .

25 Dona, A 2007, World tracking in doping substances, World An-Doping Associaon, viewed 12 November 2011,

.

26 Australian Crime Commission (ACC) 2011, Organised Crime in Australia, ACC, Canberra.

27 ibid.



Te presence of organised criminal idenes and groups in te PIEDs market presents

a treat to te integrit of Australian professional sport as a direct consequence of

te increased likeliood of criminal idenes and groups interacng wit professional

atletes and te potenal exploitaon of tese relaonsips for criminal purposes.

Relaonsips between atletes and organised crime idenes can be exploited b

criminals to corrupt te atlete and give a form of social status to te criminal, in te

same wa tat te steroid market as been used b organised crime to corrupt law

enforcement ocers.

Te use of PIEDs b sub-elite atletes as also been idened as an issue of concern b

te ACC. Overseas experience as demonstrated tat organised criminal groups involved

in matc xing are increasingl targeng sub-elite atletes due to te ease wit wic

tese individuals can be bougt, te lower levels of scrun from integrit autories

at sub-elite compeons, and te potenal long-term value of tese atletes to te

criminal group. Overseas experience as also demonstrated tat criminal idenes and

groups will invest ears developing suc relaonsips, wit te ulmate aim of aving

te atlete parcipate in acvies suc as matc xing.

Te ACC as idened an increasing number of associaons of concern between

professional atletes and organised criminal idenes in Australia. Te ACCs 2011

assessment ofThreats to the Integrity of Professional Sport in Australia, noted tat as

te amount of mone wagered on sports increases, associaons wit atletes or oter

individuals wit te abilit to inuence a sporng contest, or provide inside informaon,

will be increasingl sougt aer.

Te ACC as idened a number of issues tat pose a current treat to te integrit of

professional sport in Australia. Tese treats relate to:

organised criminal inltraon of unregulated markets28

inltraon troug legimate businesses, contractors and consultants

illicit drug use and criminal associaons

diering levels of integrit oversigt in professional sport in Australia.

28 Unregulated markets are were tere is no specic legislaon or exisng legislaon wic is open to legal interpretaon.



In recent ears, te ACC as idened tat criminal groups and entrepreneurial

individuals are increasingl exploing new and emerging unregulated drug markets.

Entrepreneurial individuals and criminal groups are exploing tese markets b

capitalising on te meframe between wen a substance is idened b regulator

autories as being armful, and te subsequent regulaon of tat substance, wic

in some cases is considerable. Tis is most clearl demonstrated in te drug analogue

market, were manufacturers and vendors connue to release pscoacve substances

tat are not et regulated.

Tese same vulnerabilies are being exploited in relaon to pepdes and ormones,

wic in some cases are not et approved for uman use et are widel available.

Strategies ulised b individuals idened b te ACC as being involved in te

distribuon of pepdes and ormones include:

te establisment of a researc bod to obtain pepdes and ormones from a

compounding parmac

te use of an-ageing clinics to distribute tese substances

te recruitment of complicit doctors to write prescripons for controlled

parmaceucals, suc as Gh

te role of a sports scienst wo beneted nanciall from te sale of pepdes

and ormones; advocated teir use and directed teir applicaon at a number

of sporng clubs, even toug e was not medicall qualied.

It is clear tat deliberate strategies ave been emploed b te PIEDs suppliers and

distributors to facilitate te acquision and suppl of tese substances and circumvent

exisng regulaons around te suppl of substances wic are not et approved for

uman use.

An assessment of mone laundering troug te football sector in Europe b te

Financial Acon Taskforce (FATF) found tat, unlike oter businesses, criminals were

aracted to sport for reasons oter tan protabilit.

FATF found tat connecons tat criminals seek to make troug sport are

movated b social presge and tat sport provides a powerful route for criminals to

become celebries b associang wit famous people and moving upwards in powerful

circles witin establised societ.29 Tis is parcularl relevant in Australia,

29 Financial Acon Taskforce, Mone Laundering troug te football sector, Paris, 2009.



wit man professional sporng club boards including some of Australias business and

polical leaders.

Te ACC as found tat sporng clubs, and professional sports in general, are vulnerable

to inltraon troug sponsorsip and business relaonsips. Tis is due to te

ig level of compeon for sponsorsip dollars between and witin te codes, te

signicant nancial pressure man professional sporng clubs are under, and limited or

no due diligence conducted on potenal investors and business partners. In essence,

sporng clubs and codes appear rarel to queson te source of mone being invested

into teir clubs.

Te ACC as idened individuals wit

extensive criminal associaons as being

in business partnersips wit major

Australian sporng codes. Te existence

of suc business relaonsips raises

concerns over te potenal for tese

relaonsips to be exploited for criminal

purposes and demonstrates ow open

Australian professional sports currentl

are to inltraon b organised criminal

idenes and groups troug legimate

businesses.

Informaon obtained b te ACC suggests tat illicit drug use b professional atletes

remains an ongoing issue, wit ocial stascs for illicit drug use witin professional

sports likel to signicantl understate te extent of actual use. Illicit drug use b

atletes leaves tem parcularl vulnerable to exploitaon for oter criminal purposes,

including matc xing and fraud arising out of te provision of inside informaon. Tere

is also evidence to suggest tat some atletes are suppling oters wit illicit drugs.

Te use of illicit substances b atletes is likel to be correlated in some cases wit

te use of WADA proibited substances b tose atletes. Some plaers are allegedl

using bot PIEDs and illicit drugs, and te risk-taking insncts wic are integral to

some elite atletes likel explain tis decision. Tere are, owever, some atletes wo

draw disncons between taking PIEDs and illicit drugs, based on personal opinions

and biases and in man cases on an evaluaon of te likeliood of te acvit being

detected.

A number of sports conduct tesng on plaers for illicit drugs and maintain policies to

deal wit posive illicit drug tests, owever evidence suggests tat loopoles exist and

are being exploited b plaers seeking to avoid tesng and detecon.



Sporng codes emplo a wide range of individuals wo ave te capacit to inuence

te outcome of a game, or ave access to inside informaon wic can be used to gain

an unfair advantage in beng markets. For example, a mid-er Australian Football

League (AFL) club as 99 sta to support te rst grade plaers. Apart from full-me

posions at clubs, individuals wit specic skills sets or knowledge, suc as sports

sciensts, are used on a contract basis.

Codes of conduct are used b te sports governing bodies to ensure plaers conform to

relevant rules and expected beaviours. More recentl, codes of conduct are being used

to proibit plaers and oter individuals involved wit atletes, suc as coaces and

support sta, from wagering and to reduce te risk of contrived results and te use of

inside informaon in beng markets.

In deciding wo is required to adere to a code of conduct, it is generall recognised tat

te net sould be cast wide to capture all individuals wo ave access to plaers and

knowledge of team acvies. however, te status of contractors and consultants, and if

te are captured under a code of conduct, remains unclear to sports governing bodies.

Te AFL, wic as a progressive integrit management framework, as

aempted to address tis risk b requiring contractors and consultants to provide

teir personal details to te sports integrit unit, as all oter club ocials and plaers

are required to do.

however, tis informaon is onl obtained if te integrit unit becomes aware tat an

individual is working at a club on a contract basis, or te club provides tis informaon.

Te ACC as found tat if a club neglects to formall disclose tis informaon, it would

be igl unlikel tat a specic contractor would come to te noce of te sports

governing bod.

Due to te igl sopiscated nature of doping, specic skills and knowledge are

required to ensure atletes obtain te greatest possible benet witout returning

a posive an-doping sample. Overseas experience as illustrated te fundamental

role contracted sports sciensts and medical professionals pla in sopiscated

doping programs, as was most clearl demonstrated in te case of Dr Ferrari and is

involvement wit Lance Armstrong.

As stated previousl, sports sciensts can pla a crical role in taking training programs

and te preparaon of atletes to te edge of, and somemes beond, wat is



permied b WADA. As professional sports become increasingl complex and reliant on

sports sciensts and oter individuals wit specialist skill sets, tese individuals will pose

a treat to te integrit of professional sport in Australia due to:

te specialist skills of tese individuals, in parcular medical doctors and

individuals wit knowledge of PIEDs

te access to and increasing

inuence contractors suc as

sports sciensts ave on internal

mecanisms and decisions

related to te training and

preparaon of professional

atletes

te idened involvement of

consultants and contractors in

sopiscated doping programs

overseas and now Australia

te limited visibilit of tese

individuals to integrit ocers and units.

Te extent of integrit measures varies signicantl between te sporng codes inAustralia, including between codes wic form te basis of substanal wagering

markets. Integrit management in professional sport in Australia is onl as strong as

te weakest link across te broader sports industr. Te lack of eecve integrit

management in some sporng codes creates a ig level of vulnerabilit for te broader

industr. It is assessed tat individuals wo pose a treat to te integrit of sport in

Australia are capable of targeng tose codes wit minimal integrit management

sstems in order to inltrate te broader industr.

Caracteriscs of te sports industr wic exacerbate tis treat are te propensit

for sporng codes to recruit from witin te broader sporng industr, te ig level ofinterconnectedness witin and across professional sports, and te connual movement

of individuals witin and between sporng codes.

Tis is parcularl te case in te football codes, were plaers and coaces move to

new teams on a regular basis.

Te treat of unetical individuals moving between codes is greatest in relaon to

individuals wo ave transferrable skills/knowledge, parcularl administrators, coaces,

ig performance coaces and sports sciensts.



Te ACC as found, on te basis of a limited and focused examinaon of one componentof te PIEDs market, tat te market as evolved signicantl in recent ears to include

pepdes and ormones. Tese substances, wic are WADA-proibited, are being

used b professional atletes in a number of sports in Australia, wit widespread use

idened or suspected in a number of professional sporng codes. Organised crime

as been found to ave a tangible and expanding footprint in tis market, and teir

acvit is being facilitated b some coaces and support sta of elite atletes, wo ave

orcestrated and/or condoned te use of proibited substances and/or metods of

administraon.

Te PIEDs market does not rival te establised markets for metlampetamine,cocaine or eroin in terms of te risk and arms te pose to te Australian communit,

but it does currentl, and as te potenal to increasingl pose arm to te sector and

te broader communit out of all proporon to te relave size of te market. Tis is

because of te special status of sport for Australia and Australians, and te enduring

signicance of concepts suc as fairness and integrit in Australian sport. Moreover,

unlike te more establised illicit drug markets, tis parcular treat as been idened

at a me wen it is sll possible for a coordinated response to get aead of te game,

to disrupt te expanding organised crime presence in professional sports and to arden

te sports sector to make it less vulnerable to inltraon b organised crime.

Tere are clear parallels between wat as been discovered in Australia and te USADA

invesgaon into Lance Armstrong, wic underlines te transnaonal treat posed

b doping to professional sport, bot from a fair pla perspecve and as a broader

integrit issue.

It is also clear from te ndings of tis project, te USADA invesgaon and previous

ig prole doping cases in Europe and te United States,30 tat it is not onl atletes

wo are involved in doping, but atlec support sta, organised criminal groups and

complicit doctors.

In te European Unions most recent Wite Paper on Sport in 2007,31 it was

recommended tat te gt against doping sould not onl target atletes, but also

tose involved in tracking tese substances, as is te case wit illicit drugs.

30 BALCO and Operaon Puerto.

31 European Commission (EC) 2007, White Paper on Sport, Brussels, viewed Januar 29 2013, .



It is clear tat te global tracking and use of PIEDs is a complex, large and igl

protable market. Wile some elite atletes, ig performance coaces, doctors and

sports industr insiders are involved in sopiscated doping programs driven b te

need to enance performance wile defeang an-doping controls, it is also clear tat acomplex suppl and distribuon network exists to sasf te ig demand for anabolic

steroids, pepdes and ormones b sub-elite and recreaonal atletes, bod builders

and increasingl, ageing Australians.

Te ACC as demonstrated troug tis project tat te treat posed b te PIEDs

market and related criminal acvies to te integrit of sport in Australia, and organised

crime aempts to inltrate te professional sports sector in tis countr, exibits man

of te caracteriscs idened in te USADA invesgaon of Armstrongs acvies

in te mid-1990s to mid-2000s. Te dierence is tat te Australian treat is current,

crosses sporng codes and is evolving.



Pepdes is a generic name given to an group of amino acids tat are linked togeter to

form a cain. Essenall, te are similar to proteins, toug in muc sorter lengts (less

tan 50 units long). In te world of sport, pepdes generall refer to one of two tings:

eiter broken protein fragments from drolsed proteins; or pepde ormones and

related compounds.

Protein pepdes are wole proteins tat are broken down into smaller pepde fragments

b a process of drolsis. hdrolsed proteins are absorbed muc faster tan oter forms

of protein and are commonl found in supplements tat contain drolsed we protein.

A pepde ormone is a protein wic is released in te blood stream. Usuall, te pepde

ormone is secreted b te pituitar gland. Pepde ormones include growt ormone

and insulin. Te substances involved in tis case smulate te producon of pepde

ormones, wic is dierent to substances tat mimic te eects of pepde ormones

suc as somatropin (a sntec uman growt ormone).

Te substances idened as being used in Australia are GhRP-2, GhRP-6, CJC-1295,

AOD-9604 and exarelin. An overview summar of tese substances is provided below:

GhRP-2 and GhRP-6 are growt ormone-releasing factors and are terefore proibited

S2 hormones and Related Substances according to te WADA Proibited List. Te are

part of te growt ormone-releasing pepde (GhRP) famil, wic includes GhRP-1,

GhRP-2, GhRP-4, GhRP-6, alexamorelin, ipamorelin and exarelin. GhRPs are used to

smulate te release of Growt hormone (Gh) b te pituitar gland. Te also promote

food intake b smulang unger and aid in energ metabolism.

Purported benets of using GhRPs include bone mineral densit, increased lean muscle

mass, improved strengt, rejuvenaon and strengtening of joints and improved

recover from injur suc as bone fractures. Side eects from te use of GhRP ma

include ot uses, loud stomac rumbling, wite blood cell count increase, sweang

and increased appete.

GhRP-2 and 6 are administered b subcutaneous injecon. GhRP-2 and GhRP-6 are

detectable in urine.

CJC-1295 is considered a growt ormone-releasing factor and is terefore considered

to be proibited according to te WADA Proibited List in te S2 categor (Pepde



ormones, growt factors and related substances). CJC-1295 is a sntec pepde

ormone, similar in structure to GhRh, wic smulates te release of growt ormone,

and subsequentl IGF-1, from te pituitar gland. CJC-1295 was iniall developed to

treat tose suering from growt disorders, muscle wasng diseases or burns vicms.however, CJC-1295 is not approved for uman use.

CJC-1295s purported anabolic eects ma increase lean muscle mass, reduce fat

and improve performance. In addion, CJC-1295 as an-inammator properes if

administered directl to te related area soon aer injur, can reduce pain and swelling

and also assist in te repair of injured ssue. It is also purported to promote slow wave

sleep (SWS) wic is responsible for te igest level of muscle growt and memor

retenon. Furter benets include reduced bod fat, increased energ and vitalit,

increased endurance, accelerated ealing, and strengtening of te eart.

CJC-1295 is administered b subcutaneous injecon, usuall in te abdomen. It is also

available as a cream.

AOD9604 is not currentl proibited under categor S2 of te WADA Proibited List.

AOD9604 works b mimicking te wa natural Gh regulates te metabolism of fat b

smulang lipolsis (te breakdown or destrucon of fat) and inibits lipogenesis (te

transformaon of non-fat food materials into bod fat). Reports b Caldaza Ltd ave

sown tat AOD9604 ad posive (anabolic) eects on carlage ssue formaon as well

as enancements in te dierenal of muscle progenitor cells (cells tat create muscle

cells) to muscle cells. Oter purported benets of AOD9604 include increasing muscle

mass and IGF-1 levels. AOD-9604 is not approved for uman use.

hexarelin is considered a growt ormone releasing factor and is terefore proibited

under categor S2, hormones and Related Substances, according to te WADA

Proibited List. As wit GhRP-6, exarelin smulates te release of Gh, wit eects

similar to tose experienced wen using a sntec growt ormone.

Purported benecial eects of exarelin use include increased strengt, growt of new

muscle bres and increases in te size of exisng muscle bres, joint rejuvenaon and

assistance in ealing. hexarelin ma also be benecial in fat reducon. Unlike

GhRP-6, tere is no eect on appete as it does not increase grelin levels responsible

for increased unger and gastric empting.

hexarelin can be administered orall in tablet form or via subcutaneous injecon.



Su

bstance

SportStatus

Detectable

SchedulingStatus(SUSM

P)

BorderStatus

Pe

pdes

GhRP-2

GhRP-6

Proibited-S2

WADAProibitedList

yes-Complex

Unsceduled

Scedule7ACustoms

(ProibitedImports)Reg

ulaons

CJC-1295

Proibited-S2

WADAProibitedList

yes-Complex

Unsceduled

Scedule7ACustoms


ulaons

hexarelin

Proibited-S2

WADAProibitedList

yes-Complex

Unsceduled

Scedule7ACustoms


ulaons

AOD-9604

Notcurrentlproibited

N/A

Unsceduled

Scedule7ACustoms


ulaons

SA

RMs

ProibitedS1WADAProibitedList

yes-Complex

TobeScedule4intePoisons

StandardMa2013

Scedule8Custom


ulaons

IG

F-1

Proibited-S2

WADAProibitedList

yes-Complex

Scedule4intePoisonsS

tandard.

Addionall,possessionwitout

autoritisillegal

Scedule7ACustoms


ulaons

M

GF

Proibited-S2

WADAProibitedList

yes-Complex


tandard.


autoritisillegal

Scedule7ACustoms


ulaons

G

h

Proibited-S2

WADAProibitedList

yes-Complex


tandard.


autoritisillegal

Scedule7ACustoms


ulaons

T

mosin

Subjecttote

formused

N/A

Unsceduled

Currentlunregulated



humn gowt rlin Ppd

human growt releasing pepdes suc as CJC-1295 and GhRP-6 smulate

an increased level of uman growt ormone (Gh). Te main pepdes

idened as being used troug Project Aperio were CJC-1295 and GhRP-6

Liquid (injected)

Cream (applied to skin)

Powder (mixed wit saline and injected)

Not approved for uman use, currentl unsceduled

Scedule 7A Customs (Proibited Imports) Regulaons

Proibited bot in and out of compeon

Detectable in urine but complex

Growth Hormone Variants

AOD-9604 (stands for An Obesit Drug number 9604) was idened in

Project Aperio as being used b professional atletes. AOD-9604 is an

experimental drug tat is in a growt ormone variants tat as fat burning

properes and ma be used b atletes to increase power to weigt raos

b beer ulisaon of fat stores. Atletes ma also use it to reabilitate so

ssue injuries.

Liquid (injected)


Not et approved for uman use, about to enter te nal pase of clinical

uman trials

not a border controlled drug

not currentl proibited



Insulin Like Growth Factor (IGF-1) and Mechano Growth Factor (MGF)

IGF-1 is a ormone secreted b te liver and is one of te primar ormones

necessar for cell growt in te bod. IGF-1 is used b bodbuilders and

atletes due to its anabolic eect.

MGF is derived from IGF-1 and assist ssue repair and adaptaon. MGF is

used due to its reported abilit to facilitate muscle repair following exercise.

Liquid (injected)

Scedule 4 on te Poisons Scedule prescripon onl

Possession witout legal autorit (a prescripon) is illegal.

Scedule 7A Customs (Proibited Imports) Regulaons


Is detectable but complex

slcv andon rcpto Modulto (sarM)

Also known as Ostarine, Enobosarm

SARMs are used to treat a range of medical condions or assist in te

management of illnesses suc as cancer b reducing muscle wasng. SARMs

enance te bods abilit to ulise testosterone.

It is suspected tat SARMs are being used b professional atletes due to

teir anabolic eect.

Liquid (injected)


To be a Scedule 4 on te Poisons Scedule prescripon onl medicine in

Ma 2013

Possession witout legal autorit (a prescripon) is illegal from Ma 2013

Scedule 8 Customs (Proibited Imports) Regulaons


Some SARMs are currentl detectable



ACC Australian Crime Commission

AFL Australian Football League

ASADA Australian Sports An-Doping Autorit

ASC Australian Sports Commission

Customs and Border Protecon Australian Customs and Border Protecon Service

FATF Financial Acon Taskforce

Gh Growt hormone

GhRP Growt hormone Releasing Pepde

Gh human Growt hormone

IGF-1 Insulin Growt Factor 1

MGF Mecano Growt Factor

NSP Needle Sringe Program

PIEDs Performance and Image Enancing Drugs

Poisons Standard Standard for te Uniform Sceduling of Medicines and Poisons

S1 Scedule 1 (to te WADA Proibited List)

S2 Scedule 2 (to te WADA Proibited List)

S4 Scedule 4 (to te Standard for te Uniform Sceduling of Medicines and Poisons)

SARMs Selecve Androgen Receptor Modulators

TGA Terapeuc Goods Administraon

USADA United States An-Doping Agenc

WADA World An-Doping Agenc


46/47


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australia drugs report

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