SPORTS Minister Kate Lundy came under fire this morning from Labor colleagues over her handling of the drugs in sports scandal, with one Sydney Labor MP accusing the anti-doping agency of abandoning proper legal process in its pursuit of NRL players.
South west Sydney MP Daryl Melham stood up in a caucus meeting this morning and singled out Senator Lundy, calling on her to get the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to “put up or shut up”.
Mr Melham, a lawyer, said he was appalled at the handling of the drugs in sport scandal claiming he had seen nothing like it in his life.
Mr Melham raised concerns over due legal process with allegations being made against players without evidence being put to them.
He also criticised the offer of “discount” suspensions to players who self-incriminate, claiming they hadn’t even been told of the allegations against them.
Mr Melham would not comment publicly about the concerns he raised in caucus.
But colleagues said he had delivered an “almighty spray” against Ms Lundy, calling for the anti-doping agency to speed up its investigation and either charge people or drop it.
Mr Melham, the former chair of the caucus, said he had serious reservations about the investigation.
“Daryl took her down,” said one caucus colleague.
“He didn’t miss.”
A caucus spokesman said Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Senator Lundy were both asked questions about the NRL.
Ms Gillard left the caucus meeting early for other engagements but Senator Lundy was asked a number of subsequent questions about the NRL by three Labor MPs.
He said one person was particularly concerned about the length of the investigation. Others brought up the issue of all Cronulla Sharks players being tarnished by just a few who had done the wrong thing within the team.
However all questioners were coming from the same perspective, the spokesman said.
He said Senator Lundy told caucus that ASADA was an independent authority and thus needed to be left to its investigation.
Senator Lundy told the meeting ASADA “had all the resources they need at the moment”.
The fire-up in caucus came after the NRL demanded the Gillard government provide more resources for the drugs in sport investigation.
The Daily Telegraph revealed today that NRL CEO Dave Smith even offered financial and other support to help speed up ADSA’s investigation.
"ASADA has been given a huge task and it needs more resources to get it done as it only has a small unit for a very large task," Mr Smith said.
"They've got a bloody great big job and they need to make sure they are resourced to get it done.”
Cabinet Minister Craig Emerson this morning said Labor would consider extra resources for ASADA if needed.
“We are happy to have a conversation about more money for ASADA,” Dr Emerson said
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/asada-must-put-up-or-shut-up/story-e6freuy9-1226595557225
