ANY Canberra sportsperson, professional or otherwise, would have to be delusional to even contemplate taking banned performance-enhancing drugs. 

It is a widely held belief that Canberra sporting teams are the most drug tested in the country because of their proximity to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency.

Around 250 tests were carried out with the Raiders last year. Brumbies’ coach, Jake White, believes that his club is the most tested in the Super 15 competition. The Canberra Capitals also believe they are the most tested in the WNBL. And it’s the same for the Canberra Cavalry men’s baseball team; the current ABL champions are the most drug-tested team in the league.

So it’s safe to say that athletes in Canberra are under more scrutiny when it comes to drug testing than elsewhere in Australia.

This is why the naming of the Canberra Raiders in the Crime Commission report has come as a shock. From what I have seen at the Raiders during pre-season and the season itself, they are meticulous in their handling of players’ use of supplements.
The hope is that the investigation doesn’t drag on for months.

Hello, world

IF ever you had any doubt about the worth of bankrolling major sporting events in terms of tourism it should have been put to rest after the first two major sporting events as part of Canberra’s Centenary celebrations.

The pictures beamed worldwide during the one-day cricket international attracted an audience that may not have previously considered Canberra as a tourist option.

The Australian Women’s Golf Open was also shown worldwide. On the Tuesday before the Open there were 24 individual television appearances by the players across the course with television networks spanning throughout Asia, Europe and America.

Hello, Canberra

IT would appear as though hockey and soccer may gain a reprieve and be included in the Centenary program.

Initially it was thought we wouldn’t be seeing the Socceroos, the Hockeyroos and the Kookaburras in Canberra this year.
At this stage nothing has been resolved and we could be running out of time. Sports Minister Andrew Barr says there is still hope that all three teams will be in Canberra later this year.

Talks will take place with Football Federation Australia in a bid to get the Socceroos playing in Canberra, possibly in a friendly.

Footy hopes

JUST on football, there is hope that Canberra teams may get a chance to play A League teams as part of FFA CEO David Gallop’s plan to establish a knockout FA Cup-style competition in Australia. This would allow semi-professional clubs to take on A League teams.

There’s also the prospect of promotion and relegation to the A League that could open the door for Canberra.

Canberra could also field a team in the proposed Super B rugby union competition put forward by Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver. The Super B teams would be made up of fringe players from the Super 15 clubs and would play curtain raisers to the Super Rugby matches. It would give Australia the semblance of a second-tier competition to bridge the gap between club and Super Rugby. We can only wait to see if this eventuates.