Chapter 1


Chapter 1

Introduction

Conduct of the Inquiry

1.1        The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Amendment Bill 2013 (the bill) was introduced and read a first time in the Senate on 6 February 2013. On 7 February, on the recommendation of the Selection of Bills Committee, the Senate referred the bill to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 12 March 2013.

1.2        The reasons for the referral were that the bill had not been released as a draft for public comment and that its legal aspects should be scrutinised to ensure that there would be no unintended consequences arising from the proposed changes.[1] 

1.3        In accordance with its usual practice, the committee advertised the inquiry on its website. The committee also contacted a number of organisations and invited them to make submissions. Sixteen submissions were received, as shown in Appendix 1.

1.4        The committee held a public hearing in Canberra on Friday, 1 March 2013. A list of witnesses who appeared at the hearing may be found at Appendix 2. A copy of the proof Hansard transcript of the hearing has been posted to the committee's website. The references to the pages of the Hansard transcript made in this report are to the proof Hansard, which may differ from those of the official transcript.

Purpose of the bill

1.5        The purpose of the bill is to amend the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Act 2006 (the Act) to strengthen the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's (ASADA) investigation functions and to enhance information sharing arrangements with other government agencies. In addition, the bill clarifies certain definitions in the Act, clarifies conflict of interest provisions for members of anti‑doping bodies established under the Act and confirms the statutory period for commencing action against an athlete in relation to possible anti-doping rule violations.[2]

Structure of the report

1.6        The remaining chapters of this report are:

  • Chapter 2, which covers the background to the bill and its key provisions; and
  • Chapter 3, which discusses key issues raised during the inquiry.

Acknowledgements

1.7        The committee thanks those individuals and organisations who made submissions in the limited time available, and also those who gave oral evidence. Their input greatly assisted the committee in its inquiry.

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