There have been dramatic changes in sport over the past 20 years. Commercialism and professionalism have resulted in a dramatic change and have changed the sporting environment, probably forever. Where once the honour of participation was the main theme, there are now huge financial rewards available.
Consequently, one result can mean the difference between obscurity and huge financial reward. People would have been naive to believe that drugs would not enter the sporting arena.
The Bill referred to by the Deputy is attempting to return to the ideal of participation being more important than winning. I am a realist, particularly in the context of the huge sums of money involved. Winning at any cost is totally unacceptable. The Bill deals with doping in sport and there is no reason I should meet the rugby union, the specific federation involved. This might be a matter for the select committee of which the Deputy is a member.
The anti-doping Bill includes a paragraph concerning an independent body which will deal with the whole area of doping in sport. I do not believe sportsmen should investigate themselves, just as I believe doctors should not investigate doctors, etc. Investigative bodies must be fully independent; setting up independent bodies within federations is not the proper way of going forward. Therefore, I have established an independent body which will be chaired by a high profile medical person and which will take control of the area. The body will be totally independent of the sports council and the Minister.
My role is not one of telling the federations what to do. I do not believe the Minister should tell federations and national governing bodies how to act. The bodies should see this themselves in the light of the events which have occurred.
All bodies have already been circularised with the intention that they should change their constitutions immediately by introducing anti-doping measures and severe penalties for those caught taking performance enhancing drugs.