This is the Coalition's position; hardly soft.
Call for ASADA to take over drugs probe
- From: AAP
- April 28, 20131:53PM
THE Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority would be the main investigator of drugs in sport under a coalition government, justice spokesman Michael Keenan says.
Mr Keenan says the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) is the body that deals specifically with anti-doping and its powers should be beefed up.
"They need to be given the resources and the powers to do that job properly," Mr Keenan told ABC TV on Sunday.
This would allow the most powerful law enforcement agency, the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), to focus on criminals such as bikie gangs and crime kingpins, Mr Keenan said.
"The Crime Commission has those extensive powers means they should be focusing on the most serious criminals that we do have," he said.
"That what's we will direct them to do if we do get a chance to govern in September."
The ACC released a year-long investigation into drugs in sport in February.
Among its findings were it identified criminal networks were involved in the distribution of doping products and the links could have led to fixed matches and manipulation of betting markets.
Mr Keenan said the ACC had investigated this area extensively but ASADA assume control.
"It is time for ASADA to take the running on it," he said.