The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS MADE BY MR MARK FRENCH

A number of allegations have been made by Mr Mark French concerning the Australian Institute of Sport's cycling facility.

These allegations will be investigated without delay.

The Australian Sports Commission this morning convened a teleconference with Cycling Australia, the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to discuss the terms of reference and timing constraints for an independent investigation.

Specifically, the investigation will inquire into, and provide recommendations on, the allegations made by Mr French in his evidence given to Court of Arbitration for Sport.

I have asked that the investigation also examine and provide recommendations on:

• whether there was any failure of management, systems or supervision at the AIS Del Monte facility; and
• whether the processes put in place by the ASC and other organisations in dealing with this matter were appropriate and effective.

Retired Supreme Court Justice the Honourable Robert Anderson QC, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, has agreed to conduct the investigation. Mr Anderson is an outstanding jurist and I am sure his appointment will be widely welcomed. I will announce the full terms of reference and the reporting date in the next few days.

Mr Anderson will report to the Boards of the Australian Sports Commission and Cycling Australia and his report will be made public, subject to privacy or other legal requirements.

The Australian Government is committed to its zero tolerance policy against doping in sport.

CANBERRA
21 June 2004

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Media contact: Richard Wise, 02 6277 7350 or 0438 204 554