Wanderers win, march into second

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Scorer ... Youssouf Hersi celebrates with the crowd. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Western Sydney Wanderers' dream debut A-League season continued as they climbed to second spot with a 2-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday night at Campbelltown Stadium.

Youssouf Hersi and Mark Bridge scored in either half as the Wanderers registered their fifth-straight win, the best streak of any team this season.

The win in front of 10,589 fans lifted the newcomers two points above Melbourne Victory, with the sides to meet at AAMI Park next Saturday.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	20	12	6	2	22	42
2	Western Sydney	20	12	2	6	11	38
3	Victory	20	11	3	6	3	36
4	Adelaide	20	11	2	7	3	35
5	Heart	20	7	3	10	-1	24
6	Newcastle	20	6	5	9	-9	23
7	Brisbane	19	6	3	10	-1	21
8	Sydney	19	6	3	10	-9	21
9	Wellington	20	5	5	10	-15	20
10	Perth	20	5	4	11	-4	19

The Wanderers trail leaders Central Coast by four points.

"It was a crucial three points and I thought it was a very good performance,'' Popovic said.

"You've got to give credit to the opposition ... you come away to a place like this and you've got that kind of noise - you lift and they lifted today, Newcastle.

"I'm still very pleased with the performance and we continue our great run.''

A change away from their regular home base at Parramatta did little to halt Western Sydney's momentum, though they were made to work hard by the Jets.

The visitors had the best early chance when they hit the post in the 18th minute.

Sam Gallaway set up the opportunity with a brilliant piece of skill out wide and Emile Heskey looked certain to score only for Nikolai Topor-Stanley to deflect his close-range shot on to the crossbar.

Hersi also squandered an excellent chance in the 25 minute, shooting straight at Mark Birighitti after breaking on goal.

The Wanderers mounted pressure in attack but couldn't finish a brilliant team move when Bridge was denied by Birighitti's outstretched foot in the 38th minute.

But Western Sydney were finally rewarded for their dominance just before halftime however when Hersi made the breakthrough.

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The Jets failed to clear a Shinji Ono free-kick and Hersi's shot rebounded off Birighitti and dropped just inside the goal.

The visitors muscled their way into the game in the second half, but there were few genuine chances for either side until the late stages.

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Tony Popovic withdrew Hersi and Ono but Bridge provided the spark to put the home side up 2-0 in the 83rd minute.

The striker collected the ball from Jerome Polenz and showed great strength to hold off the challenge of Josh Mitchell and finish brilliantly from a tight angle.

Jets captain Ruben Zadkovich ensured some nervous moments when he scored from outside the box in stoppage time.

There was a heated exchange as Heskey and Ryan Griffiths fought with Ante Covic to get a quick restart but the Jets ran out of time.

Jets coach Gary van Egmond said the performance was reflective of the club's season.

"I'm not going to say it was fantastic, but it was OK,'' he said.

"I thought overall we were more in control of the game but lacking the killer punch in the front third.''

Popovic said it was important his team continued their good form at the business end of the season.

"We've won five in a row and we're second on merit,'' Popovic said.

"Twenty games in, obviously we deserve to be there but there's some big games coming up now and it can change quite quickly.''

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Victoria pull off miracle win

Hero ... John Hastings proved to be the match-winner for Victoria. Source: Simon Cross / News Limited

A stunning late batting assault by John Hastings delivered Victoria a two-wicket win against South Australia on Saturday and a spot in the domestic one-day final.

Chasing 256, the Bushrangers appeared doomed until Hastings smacked 69 not out from 57 balls to steal victory at Adelaide Oval.

Despite Redbacks' quick Kane Richardson making a triumphant return with five wickets, Victoria won with three balls to spare.

ODD - Adelaide Oval

9 February 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Victoria 1st Innings

J. Hastings	69	57	6	3	121.05
D. Pattinson	16	16	0	1	100
D. Christian	11.2	0	56	0	4.94

Victoria's triumph takes them to 23 points and they can finish no lower than second after the tournament's minor round.

SA, with 18 points and two games remaining, are favoured to take the other berth in the February 27 playoff.

Queensland (15 points) and Western Australia (14 points) remain chances but both have just one match left.

Hastings' heroics came after Victoria stumbled to 4-60 in their chase before David Hussey (87) raised the visitors' hopes.

But when Hussey fell in the 40th over, Victoria were still 69 runs shy of their target.

"To get one over them like that tonight was pretty good - pretty special,'' he said.

Hastings smashed six fours and three sixes in a match-winning display which overshadowed Redback quick Richardson's superb bowling.

Richardson had not played top-line cricket since being banned from further bowling for running on the pitch during his Australian limited-overs debut last month.

But intensive remedial work on his bowling stride paid instant rewards with 5-61 from 13 overs.

"It has been a tough three weeks ... I felt like tonight it was all good and they came out well,'' he said.

"To bowl 13 overs and not get a warning is a good sign so, going forward, it shouldn't be an issue.''

Earlier, SA strokeplayer Callum Ferguson struck 110 and Michael Klinger made 87, as Victorian legspinner Fawad Ahmed made an eye-catching debut.

The Pakistani-born tweaker took 3-47 and earned rave reviews from Australian legend Allan Border and Tom Moody, both television commentators calling for Ahmed to be considered as a late addition to Australia's tour of India.

But Ahmed, who fled Pakistan fearing for his life for supposedly promoting western values and was granted asylum last November, is ineligible for Australia until next November.

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Returning Tariq inspires Cowboys

Solid return ... Tariq Sims had a strong game in the Cowboys' trial win. Source: Colin Whelan / AAP

Nine months of frustration are finally over for Tariq Sims after the blockbusting forward helped inspire the North Queensland Cowboys' come-from-behind 28-24 NRL trial win over the Brisbane Broncos in Mount Isa on Saturday.

Teammate Robert Lui was also rewarded for his patience, playing his first match for North Queensland since last year's opening round.

Sims relished the run against the Broncos in the Queensland outpost in his first hit-out since suffering an horrific double lower-leg fracture in round 11 last year.

It was identical to the freak fracture Sims suffered in 2011.

Sims tried to make up for lost time on Saturday in three damaging bursts, sparking a Cowboys outfit that scored four tries to one to over-run a 20-6 halftime deficit.

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The matchwinner came in the dying minutes when prop Ricky Thorby stormed over after a smart dummy half play by Blake Leary.

Lui also did his best to exorcise his demons with a return to remember.

The former Wests Tigers star ended a long exile stemming from a domestic assault charge.

Lui was sacked by Wests Tigers after being charged with assaulting his partner following a Mad Monday drinking session in 2011.

He was stood down by the NRL last year after pleading guilty to the offence in court.

Lui is now vying for the halfback jersey at North Queensland with incumbent No.7 Michael Morgan who put in a stirring effort as stand-in captain.

The highlight was a solo try on quarter-time from a clever chip and chase.

Coach Neil Henry is expected to run the rule over Lui and Morgan again in their next trial against the Dragons at Cairns next weekend.

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Cavalry ride away with ABL title

Michael Wells blasted the deciding run out of the ballpark to earn the Canberra Cavalry the title of Australian Baseball League champions on Saturday night.

Canberra beat Perth Heat 7-6 in game two to ensure the Claxton Shield will reside in the ACT for the first time in the national title's 78-year history.

Glory ... The Claxton Shield. Source: News Limited

The top-seeded Cavalry swept the two-time reigning champion 2-0, having won the opening game of the final series 6-4.

Canberra first baseman Aaron Sloan was named MVP of the series, hitting .625 and scoring three runs on the weekend.

The home side used five pitchers on Saturday night, with Brodie Downs earning the win after pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless relief with one strikeout.

Sean Toler picked up the save for the Cavalry to record his second save of the series.

The Heat got on the board first as a result of wild pitching from Canberra's John Holdzkom and a two-run RBI single from Michael Ohlman.

The Cavalry were quick to return fire with a lead off home run from Kody Hightower to cut Perth's lead to one.

The Cavalry took advantage of a Perth error in the second to eventually score four runs on the inning and tacked on another in the third to hold a strong lead.

But Perth tied the game in the fifth and the score remained 6-6 until Wells hit a solo shot in the seventh to win in front of a sell-out and record-breaking crowd of 2,043 at Narrabundah Ballpark.

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Brumbies shine, Reds struggle

Momentum ... The Brumbies will start the season on a high. Source: AAP

The Brumbies and Reds will go into their Super Rugby season-opening clash in very different moods after their final trial matches.

A dream return to Super Rugby looks certain for Clyde Rathbone, with the former Wallabies winger scoring two tries in the Brumbies 38-7 win over the ACT XV on Friday.

Rathbone, who retired from professional rugby in 2009, had both his trademark corner-finding speed and the slick hands of Christian Lealiifano to thank for his tries.

Coach Jake White said Lealiifano looked dangerous every time he touched the ball.

''I thought (Matt Toomua) played really well, as well,'' White said.

''He was brave, he took the ball to the line ... and that's probably why Christian was allowed to get so much movement.''

The injury-free hitout will give the Brumbies ample confidence going into next week's season opener against the Queensland Reds, however they were not pushed to their limit in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Viking Park.

The Brumbies did get an early scare when their backline bombed a certain try from 15 metres out.

ACT XV winger Stephan Van Der Walt swooped on the loose pass from Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg and raced 85 metres to the tryline.

But the lead was shortlived and the traffic was then all one way for the Super Rugby side.

David Pocock kicked off his Canberra rugby life in style when he dived off the back of a rolling maul from close range to level the score.

Lealiifano then busted a tackle just past halfway, before drawing the fullback to send Mogg over the line in the 16th minute.

The floodgates looked to open when Rathbone scored in the 22nd minute, but the ACT XV dug in and prevented the Brumbies crossing again until after halftime, when Stephen Moore and Nic White both scored from close range.

Scott Sio made a strong bust up the middle in the 56th minute before he was brought down. But in a quick recycle of the ball, Lealiifano flicked the ball out to Rathbone who scored the final try of the night.

Coach Jake White wouldn't say whether Rathbone would start next week's match, but said he had proven he was still up to Super Rugby level.

''He's still got it,'' White said.

''I have no hesitation in, if I have to announce him, that I don't think he's good enough. It just means that him, Henry (Speight) and Joe (Tomane) have to push hard for those two wing positions.''

While in Queensland the Reds suffered their first trial loss in three years on Friday night - falling 20-8 to the Super Rugby champion Chiefs - but there were some rewards on the Sunshine Coast.

Halfback Ben Lucas and flanker Ed Quirk - sized up to fill the boots of Will Genia and Scott Higginbotham for round one - were among the most impressive players at Stockland Stadium as the Chiefs came from 8-0 down to win.

And Queensland's oft-maligned scrum were dominant for the first hour as their starting pack dictated terms in the set-piece.

But without their big three of Wallabies skipper James Horwill, general Genia and pro-boxing playmaker Quade Cooper, the Reds struggled running into the wind as the Chiefs put on a 20-point second-half burst in front of 4692 fans.

All Blacks five-eighth Aaron Cruden showed he'd lost none of his zip from 2012 and combined brilliantly with his backline while the home side were let down by poor handling under pressure.

The Reds have lost only one pre-season game under Ewen McKenzie - back in 2010 against the Western Force in Perth - and they were well in the game at 10-8 down with 10 minutes left.

But an Albert Anae mid-way fumble - one of many running into the wind - was the spark for a counter-attacking raid finished by Augustine Pulu.

Winger Aseli Tikoirotuma then sealed the result in the dying minutes.

There was no shortage of feeling between the 2011 and 2012 champions, highlighted by nasty scuffle on the ground between the team's littlest men in Ben Lucas and Aaron Cruden.

The Reds had the wind at the backs in the first half but it was their set-piece dominance which laid the foundations for an 8-0 lead at the main break.

Queensland have boasted one of the best lineouts in the competition in recent seasons but it was their scrum which led the way.

But it took the home side until the 38th minute before Liam Gill, who pick and drove for two five-pointers in last week's trial win against the Blues, crossed for the opener, again from close range.

Skipper James Slipper produced the biggest play of the first half with the last - producing a huge front-on tackle on Sam Cane to save a certain try.

Despite the loss, Slipper ended the match in laughter when told Cooper was victorious in his bout against Barry Dunnett - thanks to a first-round knockout.

''Is that a joke?'' he asked. ''That's a bit of a surprise.''

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SuperCoach Insider: The Rabbitohs

Burgess Brothers ... potentiallye big NRL SuperCoach earners. Source: Grant Trouville / AAP

One Burgess's pain is another's gain. With the eldest of South Sydney's four Burgess brothers, Luke, out for six months with a shoulder injury, the big SuperCoach winner could be brother George.

The 120kg monster - just $105,400 for SuperCoach - will be battling it out for a front row spot with Roy Asotasi, Jeff Lima, Jason Clark, Dave Tyrrell and Josh Starling.

Ironically, the other obstacle in George's way is another brother, Sam, who may push up from the back row to prop.

Sam himself will be hot SuperCoach property once again, particularly under the new attack-oriented points system, which suits his bash and crash style.

His potential partner in the back row, new recruit Ben Te'o, also looks an intriguing purchase.

Te'o averaged 58 minutes last year at Brisbane Broncos, but those figures are skewed as he played some full games away from the action at centre. The Queensland representative is eyeing 80 minutes in the back row this year as Dave Taylor's replacement.

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The departure of Petero Civoniceva creates minutes in the front row, with Scott Anderson a possibly beneficiary. He only managed five games in 2012 due to a foot injury - at an average of just 23 minutes per match.

Consequently, his $112,600 starting price is well below his worth in the past, when he was a key member of Brisbane's pack.

But with one of the best points per minute rates in the game (better than Paul Gallen), Anderson has plenty of room for improvement, if named ahead of fringe props David Hala, Jarrod Wallace and Mitchell Dodds.

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Barring injury, superstar fullback Greg Inglis will be even more of a SuperCoach handful this year under the new points system. He would have averaged 80 if last year's stats were calculated via the new system (a massive 21-point increase). Inglis averaged almost eight tackle busts a game, the most in the competition.

With tackle busts to score two SuperCoach points this year, 16 of those extra 21 points (or 76 per cent) came from tackle busts.

Issac Luke is one of the best SuperCoach players of all time, but has the shadow of Nathan Peats hanging over him in 2013.

Coach Michael Maguire has publicly backed the Luke/Peats hooking combo, which could create some drama for Luke.

Luke averaged 68 minutes last year. But given Peats only stole Luke's game time for the back half of the season, his average minutes could drop below 60 this year.

Even averaging 60 minutes, Luke will be a SuperCoach force at some stage, but maybe not an initial buy. So wait for a price drop, then buy him.

The stud: George Burgess

The dud: Issac Luke

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Storm damaged in Raiders loss

Kevin Proctor ... injured in trial loss to Raiders. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Melbourne Storm are set to pay a heavy price from Friday's 40-8 NRL trial loss to Canberra, with Kevin Proctor, Matt Duffie and Maurice Blair all picking up injuries which will probably rule them out of the upcoming World Club Challenge against Leeds.

Proctor will definitely miss the February 22 game after damaging the medial ligament in his left knee, while winger Duffie (right hamstring) and utility back Blair (cheekbone) will anxiously await the results of scans on Saturday.

It capped off a very disappointing night at Simonds Stadium for the Storm, who were thumped by a Raiders team missing six big names on All-Stars duty.

"Kevin Proctor's is a bad one, Bobby Blair with his eye socket or cheekbone (is in a) bit of trouble and Matt Duffie with his hamstring,'' said Storm assistant coach Kevin Walters.

"All those three would have expected to have been on the plane, but now they're not.

"They're injured, so we have to try to come up with some others.''

The Storm will name their WCC squad on Saturday, two days before flying to England.

Melbourne were without captain Cameron Smith and Justin O'Neill - both on duty for Saturday's All-Stars game in Brisbane - while halfback Cooper Cronk was injured.

But despite pulling out of the NRL All-Stars squad last month with an ankle injury, Billy Slater made cameos early in each half on Friday for Melbourne before being replaced at fullback by youngster Ben Hampton.

"I know we had some guys missing, but to put in a performance like that was very disappointing,'' said Walters.

"Particularly defensively, one of the strong trademarks of the Storm and today it was non-existent.

"I think most of it was down to attitude.''

The only downside from Friday's game for the impressive Raiders was a medial ligament strain to centre Jarrod Croker, last year's leading NRL points-scorer.

"We don't know the extent of the strain, whether it's a grade one or a grade two,'' said Canberra coach David Furner.

"I think he should be right for the start of the season from what I've been told.''

The Raiders were never going to be headed after scoring the first five tries of the game.

French international Dimitri Pelo scored a first-half double for the Raiders, while their other winger, Sandor Earl, also crossed twice.

Canberra's other try-scorers were Josh Dugan, Josh Papalii, Haydon Hodge and Edrick Lee.

"It is a trial and as a coach you're just pleased that the areas you've been working on during the pre-season, that you are able to implement them during games,'' said Furner.

"Having back-to-back sets, obviously you've got to use them, but it does take a fair bit of juice out of the opposition.

"In that first half we had five or six sets in a row that we were able to score points off.''

The Raiders have the biggest contingent of any NRL club on All-Stars duty, with Jake Foster, Jack Wighton, Blake Ferguson, Joel Thompson, Reece Robinson and David Shillington all set to play in Saturday night's game in Brisbane.

Melbourne's only tries were scored by Duffie and local Victorian product Richard Kennar.

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Promising Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco survived his first hitout since the knee reconstruction which ruined his rookie campaign but it was Penrith who won an NRL trial thriller 34-32 in Bathurst on Friday night.

With star pivot Lachlan Coote a late inclusion for the Panthers, halfback Blake Austin kicked the match-winning conversion after the siren from close range to end an entertaining contest.

Both sides featured a smattering of NRL regulars, but most eyes were on Tedesco, whose top-grade debut in 2012 lasted just a matter of minutes before he ruptured the ACL in the opening round.

He played the first 40 minutes at Carrington Park on Friday night before being rested.

Coote was a surprise starter for the Panthers, who also had Geoff Daniela, Jeremy Latimore, Dayne Weston and Clint Newton in the line-up.

Weston and Newton were both powerful, but the performance of former South Sydney flyer James Roberts in the centres will no doubt give hope to Penrith fans looking to life after the departure of Michael Jennings.

Roberts was dangerous throughout, setting up Coote for one try with some blinding speed before scoring what proved to be the match-winner in the final minute after the Panthers had regathered a short kick-off.

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Bennell stars in All-Stars romp

Winners ... Indigenous All-Stars teammates celebrate after a goal. Source: AAP

Gold Coast youngster Harley Bennell starred as the Indigenous All Stars crushed Richmond by 50 points in Friday night's AFL exhibition match at Alice Springs.

The Gold Coast 20-year-old was awarded the Polly Farmer Medal for his best-afield performance in the 14.6 (90) to 6.4 (40) win.

Richmond were missing many of their top players, including captain Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Brett Deledio, and were no match for the composite indigenous team.

The All Stars were also without original captain Lance Franklin, who pulled out earlier this week with a leg injury, but they never looked in trouble.

Essendon pair Paddy Ryder and Alwyn Davey gave their troubled club some cheer with strong games and Davey's brother Aaron also was also among the All Stars' best.

Adelaide's Graham Johncock kicked three goals for the indigenous team, with Eddie Betts (Carlton) and Liam Jones (Western Bulldogs) pitching in with two apiece.

On an ugly night for the undermanned Tigers, their star onballer Dustin Martin stood out and was one of the best afield in front of more than 8000 fans.

Former Geelong ruckman Orren Stephenson, in his first game for Richmond, and Luke McGuane kicked two apiece for the Tigers.

Richmond trailed by nearly 10 goals, but the last term was the only quarter where they outscored the All Stars.

Riewoldt was already sitting out the match and, according to the AFL website, flew back to Melbourne on Friday after he became ill.

Jones was impressive early with some big marks and two of the All Stars' first three goals.

All Stars coach Michael O'Loughlin said while it was only an exhibition, the game would benefit several members of the composite team heading into the AFL season.

"They'll start the year with a lot of confidence. A lot of them were injured last year, so it's going to be great,'' he said.
O'Loughlin also heaped praise on Bennell, who is going into his third season.

"I've known Harley since he was in the AIS Academy - I was his mentor there and to see him come on, he could be one of the really good players in the AFL, a real top liner,'' O'Loughlin said.

"He's starting to realise the work rate and professionalism and dedication you need to succeed at this level and he's building a career not for one, two or three years, but to get a 10-plus year career out of it.''

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said Vlastuin and key position player Kamdyn McIntosh were two youngsters who had impressed and he was also much happier with their second half.

"We always knew it was an exhibition type game, we were always going to try things, at various stages we put a few blokes behind the ball and then we tried it the other way,'' Hardwick said.

"It was always a game we were going to try certain situations, we had relatively young squad out there just to get them in tune with what we're trying to do going forward.

"We would have liked it to be closer on the scoreboard, there's no doubt about that, we came to win like we would always but there were some good signs in the second half when we got our game up and going a bit more.''

The undermanned Tigers were in trouble from the start and their workrate also lacked in comparison to the All Stars' hard running.

The All Stars made good use of a strong breeze and kicked five goals to one in the first term to take control.

Richmond were only down by a manageable four goals late in the second term, but Johncock kicked his two goals to give the All Stars a 36-point lead at the main break.

Tigers defender Steven Morris was set upon by several All Stars in a second-term scuffle.

Of the younger players, Hawthorn recruit Jed Anderson impressed for the All Stars and Richmond's Nick Vlastuin saw plenty of the ball in the second half.

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Top class Mariners sink Phoenix

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Top class ... Central Coast Mariners thump Wellington Phoenix. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

A Bernie Ibini brace helped A-League leaders Central Coast to an emphatic 5-0 win over battling Wellington on Thursday in Gosford.

Ibini scored in the 30th and 87th minutes as the Mariners ran riot to move six points clear at the head of the A-League ladder.

The in-form Ibini was ably backed up by Daniel McBreen who continued his incredible goal-scoring run, and Central Coast kept their impregnable home record record intact.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	20	12	6	2	22	42
2	Victory	19	11	3	5	4	36
3	Western Sydney	19	11	2	6	10	35
4	Adelaide	19	10	2	7	2	32
5	Newcastle	19	6	5	8	-8	23
6	Brisbane	19	6	3	10	-1	21
7	Heart	19	6	3	10	-3	21
8	Sydney	19	6	3	10	-9	21
9	Wellington	20	5	5	10	-15	20
10	Perth	19	5	4	10	-2	19

The Mariners are two wins clear of Melbourne Victory on top of the A-League table and, with a massive goal difference of 22, are looking increasingly difficult to reel in.

Ibini's second goal, created by a superb through ball from McBreen, was followed by another from substitute Mitchell Duke on a memorable night for the home side.

McBreen, the league's leading goal-scorer, claimed his 15th of the year in the 69th minute as the Mariners extended their undefeated home record this season to 10 games - nine wins and one draw.

In the lead-up to the clash, Mariners' coach Graham Arnold challenged his side to aim for 50 premiership points, as they seek a second straight premiership, and they responded in kind.

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Re-live all the action from the Mariners big win, including video highlights, at our A-League Match Centre.

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Ibini's first-half goal was added to by John Hutchinson strike in the 65th minute and a bullet header from the irrepressible McBreen from a corner in the 68th minute.

Earlier, Pedj Bojic had missed two golden chances to extend the Mariners' lead. But that mattered little as they decimated the second-last Phoenix who have little to look forward to in the final third of the season - in stark contrast to their conquerers.

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Arnold heaped praised on his side after the win.

"I thought we were very, very good," he said.

"I'm very happy - it was fantastic.

"(But) it could have been 10 ... I was disappointed with the execution over 90 minutes."

Wellington coach Ricki Herbert pulled no punches in assessing his side's effort.

"I thought we were hopeless tonight ... we were dreadful," he said.

"It was an embarrassing night for the club. It wasn't acceptable."

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Investigation finds widespread drug use

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United front ... Australia's top sporting CEOs pledged to crack down on drug cheats. Source:News Limited

The findings of a year-long government investigation which found widespread use of banned drugs in Australian professional sport and links with organised crime "are shocking and will disgust Australian fans".

What It Examined

• The market for Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs)
• The involvement of organised criminal identities and groups in the distribution of new generation PIEDs
• The use of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited substances by professional athletes in Australia 
• Current threats to the integrity of professional sport in Australia.

What It Found

• The investigation identified widespread use of prohibited substances including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs in professional sport. 
• It also found that this use has been facilitated by sports scientists, high-performance coaches and sports staff. 
• In some cases, players are being administered with substances that have not yet been approved for human use.
• The ACC also identified organised crime identities and groups that are involved in the distribution of PIEDs to athletes and professional sports staff. 
• The report concluded that some coaches, sports scientists and support staff of elite athletes have orchestrated and/or condoned the use of prohibited substances.

The Australian Crime Commission released the findings of a 12-month investigation into the integrity of Australian sport and the relationship between professional sporting bodies, prohibited substances and organised crime.

It said the links may have resulted in match-fixing and fraudulent manipulation of betting markets.

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The key findings of the investigation identified widespread use of prohibited substances including peptides, hormones and illicit drugs in professional sport.

It said that in some cases players were being administered with substances that have not yet been approved for human use.

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Justice Minister Jason Clare said one possible case of match-fixing was already under investigation, though he did not identify the sport.

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"The findings are shocking and will disgust Australian sports fans," Clare said.

The ACC also identified organised crime identities and groups that are involved in the distribution of PIEDS (Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs), to athletes and professional sports stars.

The ACC report noted increasing evidence of personal relationships of concern between professional athletes and organised criminal identities and groups.

"The ACC has found that professional sport in Australia is highly vulnerable to infiltration by organised crime. Multiple athletes from a number of clubs in major Australian sporting codes are suspected of currently using or having used peptides," Clare said.

"Official from clubs have also been identified as administering, via injections and intravenous drips, a variety of substances."

Clare added: "It's cheating, but it's worse than that: it's cheating with the help of criminals."

Sports Minister Kate Lundy said revelations from international cycling showed that doping could be well organised and systemic and conducted in parallel with a comprehensive testing regime.

"With doping becoming increasingly sophisticated, it is less likely that anti-doping violations will be detected through analytical means alone," she said.

The National Rugby League CEO Dave Smith said rugby league would be strong in meeting emerging threats in world sport.

"As sports we have to get this right and we will," Smith said.

"We are committed to working with ASADA and the Government in dealing with these threats and in addition to that will strengthen our own investigative capability.

"Regardless of the outcome of those investigations, there is an opportunity here to take the initiative in terms of the integrity of sport.

"Our fans and the absolute majority of our players deserve nothing less."

Federal sports minister Kate Lundy said the government was moving to introduce tough new measures to crack down on the use of banned drugs and unethical behaviour in sport.

"Today is about the integrity of sport in Australia," Lundy said.

"If you want to dope and cheat, we will catch you. If you want to fix a match, we will catch you.

"And as you can see by the investigations that have taken place, that we are well on the way to seeking out and hunting down those who will dope and cheat."

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said he doesn't know how many individual clubs are involved in the potentially illegal drug use.

"But everybody here is very clear about the rules we operate under," he said.

While ARU boss Bill Pulver said: "While being quite proud of our record it would be naive of the ARU to think this is not an issue that spans all Australian sports."

The report concluded that some coaches, sports scientists and support staff of elite athletes have orchestrated and/or condoned the use of prohibited substances.

Some sports scientists have indicated a willingness to administer substances to elite athletes which are untested or not yet approved for human use.

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