Andy Parkinson, the head of British anti-doping, has warned that the drug scandal rocking Australian sport could easily hit the UK too. The Australian Crime Commission has released a report after a 12-month investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs across sport in the country, which pointed to the influence of organised crime in drug distribution and possibly match-fixing too. Richard Ings, the former head of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (Asada), said: "This is not a black day in Australian sport, this is the blackest day." But Parkinson, the head of UK Anti-Doping (Ukas), told The Independent that Britain had a similar sporting culture to Australia and could not be complacent. "I wasn't particularly shocked by it," he said, "because it's how people in anti-doping have viewed the world for a number of years. "The sporting environment in the UK and Australia is largely the same," Parkinson explained when asked if Britain might be vulnerable. "The importance placed on sport is largely the same as well. The threat [the ACC] identify as in the substances and the availability, that's very similar to our view on life." Parkinson pointed to last month's ban of javelin coach Ian Burns when he … Continue reading →

In the Australian Crime Commission's report on drugs in sport, the following performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) were investigated. Here's a complete rundown of exactly what they are, and what they do. These peptides stimulate the increased release of hGH. The most common peptides being used are CJC-1295, GHRP-6, GHRP-2, and Hexarelin. Often used in combination with anabolic substances to promote muscle gain, peptides can result in anabolic effect on an athlete. Some believe that they help in repairing soft tissue injuries, however this has not been scientifically proven. Peptides are sometimes used as anti-ageing medicine as they can be sold as a topical cream, or intravenously. They have been on the WADA Prohibited List since 2008. AOD-9604 is a Growth Hormone with fat burning ability that can be used to increase the power and weight ratio in athletes. In clinical trials it was found that AOD-9604 can assist in cartilage creation and repair and could help enhance muscle formation. AOD-9604 is not yet on the WADA Prohibited List. SARMSs act on anabolic receptors to promote bone and muscle growth. SARMs can cause androgenic side effects such as baldness and breast development in males, and infertility and deepening of … Continue reading →

7 February 2013 Last updated at 08:40 ET A third member of a drugs gang responsible for smuggling cocaine worth 40m into the UK has been made the subject of a cash confiscation order. Robert Dalrymple, 44, formerly of Gretna, was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison in 2011. He was found guilty of acting as a courier for the drug dealing operation between Spain and the UK. A confiscation order for 51,000 was made against him at the High Court in Edinburgh. Ringleaders Lindsay Harkins, formerly of Helensburgh, and Keith Blenkinsop, of Annan, have previously had 92,268 and 21,000 seized respectively. Lindsey Miller, head of the Serious and Organised Crime Division (SOCD), said: "Robert Dalrymple was found guilty of acting as a courier for a drug dealing operation that stretched from Spain to Newcastle, Glasgow, Prestwick and Dumfries and Galloway. "His conviction for the supply of illegal drugs means that he is deemed to have a 'criminal lifestyle' under the Proceeds of Crime Act. "This entitles the court to assess the property gained by him for six years prior to the date of the offence, and to take his income and assets acquired over that period into account … Continue reading →