Australian sport was rocked last week by a report which suggests clear evidence of systematic doping at a team as well as an individual level and the running of programmes by organised crime syndicates.
As a nation Australia is similar to Ireland in that sport is perhaps the largest single element of national conversation.  It defines itself by victory on an international stage and was proud to be the successful host of the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, hailed as one of the best games ever.
Figures in the report highlight that even in 2006, the sports industry in Australia was worth A$8 Billion, but also that integrity and fairness were central planks on what made it so appealing.
The report was published by the Australian Crime Commission which used phone recordings and police style investigative techniques to uncover what it referred to as systematic doping programmes at certain clubs, sometimes without the awareness of players.
Australian Rules Football and Rugby League are the two sports to bear the brunt of public ire in the days since the report.  Criminal proceedings are now being instigated as a result of the report and that has delayed the naming of teams and coaches accused of administering the performance enhancing drugs.
This delay itself has fed the frenzy engulfing Australian sport and led to claims that until the guilty are named, that everyone is tarred.
Coming hot on the heels of Lance Armstrong‘s admission, of doubts over US sport at the highest level involving baseball and NFL, and the trial in spain of a doctor accused of running a doping network across soccer, tennis and other sports as well as cycling, these are difficult days for sport.
At an international level sponsorship deals continue to escalate in value with the addition of Emirates airlines to the F1 roster last week raising the stakes yet higher.
The passion, excitement and engagement that sport brings to a commercial partner cannot be matched by any other form of marketing but it is vital that the acts of glory that give rise to this are seen as being genuine and free of any taint of corruption.
The Irish Sports Council, which meets for the first time this year, has been widely praised for the efficiency and effectiveness of the anti doping programmes of testing and education which it runs.
As sport on a global basis looks to ‘clean up its act’ in the words of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, there may arise opportunities for taking those programmes to other countries and bringing in revenue through expertise.
Download a PDF copy of the Australian Crime Commission Report here.
[stextbox id=”info”]This article is free to view for a limited period.  Sign up today for a full or trial membership of Sport for Business and gain access to our full content, to a range of networking opportunities and additional member services.[/stextbox]
[stextbox id=”black”]Sign up for a free daily news digest and stay ahead with everything that is happening in the commercial world of Irish sport, delivered to your mail box before 8am Monday to Friday[/stextbox]