Two of Australia's leading sports science bodies have slammed a senate committee report recommending the federal government delay regulating their industry until ASADA wraps up its anti-doping probes in the AFL and NRL.
The committee, in a report released on Tuesday, said the investigations by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) had raised questions about the practice of sports science in Australia.
But, it added, the nature and extent of any problems within the sector were impossible to ascertain without seeing the results of their probes.
It recommended the government delay any detailed consideration of new regulations until the ACC and/or ASADA finalised their investigations and the term `sports scientist' had been properly defined.
Currently, sports scientists do not have to be accredited and are only bound by a voluntary code of practice managed by Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA).
"The committee contends that recommendations about regulation or mandatory registration of sports scientists in Australia are premature," the report said.
The report angered Sports Medicine Australia (SMA), which accused the government of missing a golden opportunity to reduce the risk of athletes being subjected to "unethical and dangerous" supplement programs by rogue operators.
"It's crucial for the safety or our sportspeople, and integrity of the games we love, to ensure that this rogue element of sport scientists are not operating in a vacuum," SMA chief executive Nello Marino said in a statement.
"And, more importantly, that they are accountable for their actions in a similar way that other sports medicine practitioners are required to be accountable in their practice."
ESSA executive officer Anita Hobson-Powell said her organisation was shocked by the recommendations, labelling the proposed delay negligent.
"We strongly believe that the outcome of these reports should have no impact on this decision," she said.
"It doesn't take further investigations to see that this anomaly will continue to put players lives at risk and further delay is not only irresponsible but negligent.
"Do we really need an even darker day for Australian sport before the government will act?"
The senate committee launched its inquiry last month in the wake of the ACC and ASADA investigations that have enveloped the NRL and AFL.
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