The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority "could have the power to compel parties such as Stephen Dank to interviews by next week, with the federal Sports Minister increasingly confident that legislation to bolster the muscle of the government agency will be passed," according to Samantha Lane of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. After agreeing to drop an original push for ASADA to be able to force individuals to self-incriminate in interviews, minister Kate Lundy "has won support for a new bill from the Greens." The crucial amendments to the ASADA legislation "would give the national anti-doping watchdog the power to oblige all persons of interest to interviews, and compel them to produce all relevant documents, and other materials, relevant to investigations" (SMH, 5/10).
TAKING HEAT: In Melbourne, Brent Read reported ASADA "has copped a shellacking for a second successive day over its handling of the aborted interview" with National Rugby League Cronulla player Wade Graham. A day after NRL CEO Dave Smith found no justification for ASADA's decision to suspend the interview process, Melbourne academic and lawyer Martin Hardie claimed that "the anti-doping agency had no idea how to deal with athletes." Hardie "also ridiculed comparisons with the Lance Armstrong case" and suggested World Anti-Doping Agency President John Fahey had acted like a "spoiled brat" with his response to the NRL's handling of the ongoing inquiry (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/10).
