Six clubs quizzed in drugs probe

Anti-doping officials have met with six top-flight Australian rugby league clubs over the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) spoke to Manly, Cronulla, Newcastle, Penrith, North Queensland and Canberra.

The six clubs revealed they were under scrutiny following a report into the use of drugs published last week.

The year-long investigation also implicated two Australian Rules teams.

"Sports would be foolish to think that they didn't need to take the integrity of their sport seriously," said sports minister Kate Lundy.

Nick Bryant BBC News, Sydney

"Australia loves sport and hates cheats, and these allegations offend a strong, ingrained sense of fair play. Australians like winning for sure, but not at all costs. In Aussie Rules, one of the country's most popular sporting codes, players with disciplinary infringements are not even considered for the game's highest honour, the Brownlow Medal. And that's the way fans like it."

"The substance of the issue here is that we do have a fight on our hands. It's a serious one.

"Australians take their sport extremely seriously and as sport minister I will not stand by to allow this kind of thing to go on in Australian sport unchecked."

The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) report said it had found "widespread" use of banned performance-enhancing drugs among professional and amateur athletes which also had links to gambling and organised crime.

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Six clubs quizzed in drugs probe