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.

Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee reappointments

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced the reappointment of Professor Ken Fitch AM as Chair to the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee (ASDMAC) for a further term of two years.

“Professor Fitch is one of Australia’s leading figures in sports medicine and I am delighted he will continue to bring his expertise and leadership to the work of the committee,” Senator Kemp said.

Professor Fitch is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission, the Chair of the IOC Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee, a member of the Australian Government’s Anti-Doping Research Program Panel and has been Chair of ASDMAC since it was established in 1999.

Senator Kemp also announced the re-appointment of Dr Peter Harcourt, Dr Hugh Hazard and Dr Susan White to ASDMAC for further two year terms.
Dr Harcourt is Medical Coordinator at the Victorian Institute of Sport and was Chief Medical Officer at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Dr Hazard has extensive experience in sports medicine and in anti-doping policy relating to rugby league. He is Chief Medical Officer for the National Rugby League and team physician for the Canterbury Bulldogs rugby league team.

Dr White is Sports Physician at the Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre and Chief Medical Officer of Netball Australia.
“ASDMAC has an important and highly specialised role in the fight against drugs in sport,” Senator Kemp said.

“The medical and scientific skill of these committee members, and their extensive experience in Australian sport, will be crucial to its continued effective operation.”

The Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority (ASADA) administers ASDMAC, which has responsibility for:

• consideration and, where appropriate, approval of Therapeutic Use Exemption applications by athletes for the legitimate use of a prohibited substance; and
• provision of specialist medical advice to ASADA, the Australian Sports Commission, national sporting organisations, testing laboratories and anti doping tribunals.

“The Australian Government takes very seriously the fight against doping in sport,” Senator Kemp said.

“Australia’s anti doping framework was strengthened by the establishment of ASADA and the Government will ensure other elements of the framework are in place and operating effectively.”