LEADERS of the Hunter's football codes do not believe players in local competitions are using performance-enhancing substances despite the Australian Crime Commission's report stating "sub-elite athletes" are doping and are considered a high-risk group for the practice.
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Newcastle Rugby League general manager John Fahey, Northern NSW Football chief executive David Eland and Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union president Phil Payne spoke to the Newcastle Herald after the ACC's report was released.
Black Diamond AFL football operations manager Garry Burkinshaw said he could not comment because of a directive from the code's hierarchy.
The ACC report said sub-elite athletes were a high-risk group for doping because of the "highly competitive environment in attaining a position in elite sport; and the ability to make significant gains in strength and power through the use of PIEDs [performance- and image-enhancing drugs]".
It said peptides and hormones were being used at the sub-elite level in a number of sporting codes and were easily obtained by motivated athletes.
Fahey, Eland and Payne said drug testing was not carried out at top local levels because of the costs involved. There is also no drug testing in the BDAFL.
The absence of testing means no one is sure about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Hunter sport, but the trio of leaders who spoke to the Herald doubt it occurs.
The Newcastle Rugby League threatened clubs with drug tests in 2001 after concerns the practice was rife, but no tests were conducted.
Fahey said he "never heard even any whispers" of performance-enhancing drugs being used during his time in charge.
"But obviously it's hard to pinpoint from the situation we are in."
He said the Newcastle competition would be in "uncharted territory" if doping was uncovered, but sanctions would be handled by the Country Rugby League.
Asked if the scandal would affect participation levels in Newcastle, Fahey said: "It's how sport reacts as a whole to this that's going to be critical.
"If action is swift, and it appears as though it's going to be, you make sure all your ducks are in a row in relation to this so that we can move in a positive manner."
Eland was confident Hunter soccer was free of the drug use outlined in the ACC report.
"I would be extremely surprised if there was any drug use among our players, and I have never heard even a whisper of anything in that regard," he said.
"I would never have given it a second thought before today."
Eland said motivation to cheat in the pursuit of elite positions was only a minor factor in the Northern NSW State League because only a small percentage of players would still have aspirations to play professionally.
He said any player found doping would probably be punished under Football Federation Australia's code of conduct.
He believed the report would not damage soccer participation levels in Northern NSW.
"Our registrations are so far removed from this issue, I don't believe it will have any impact on grassroots participation," he said.
The NHRU has experience with performance-enhancing drugs from a case involving former Waratahs prop Luke Troy in 2009.
Troy was banned for two years after Australian Customs and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority found he had ordered two types of steroids over the internet in 2006.
Payne believed it was an isolated incident in Hunter rugby.
"Nothing else has come across our desk other than that Luke Troy incident," he said.
"I would have to say it is extremely doubtful that there is drug use, but you never know. I think it would be highly unlikely."
He said in signing registration forms, rugby players gave permission to be drug tested, although these were not carried out.
Any player found doping would be punished by the World Anti-Doping Authority, he said.
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He believed it was extremely doubtful the ACC report would have an impact on rugby registration numbers.
Hunter Academy of Sport chief executive Ken Clifford said his organisation had no direct experience of drug cheating in its 24-year history.
"We've been on the case for 20 years," Clifford said.
"We have not had direct experience with it and I doubt, from my experience, whether there is a lot going on at the junior or development level of sport."