Three Aussies caught doping before Games

THREE Aussie athletes were banned from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games before they began after being caught in a pre-Games doping blitz.

“Less than 20” foreign athletes had also been stopped from coming to the Coast in a bid to make the 2018 Games the “cleanest ever”, Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority chief David Sharpe revealed yesterday.

They were among 2600 Australian athletes and 500 foreigners tested in a preGames crackdown focusing on suspect individuals and “highrisk” sports.

Mr Sharpe refused to confirm if the three banned Australians were high-profile sprinter Jessica Peris, and powerlifters Brendan Hunt and Sieraya O’Driscoll. Peris, the daughter of Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris, was ruled out of the Games trials on the Gold Coast after testing positive to banned substances but has denied wrongdoing and vowed to clear her name.

O’Driscoll and Hunt were banned for four years and two years respectively after being caught for doping violations in the lead-up to the Coast Games.

“It has allowed three clean athletes the opportunity to participate in the Games,” Mr Sharpe said of the three Aussies who had been banned.

“It’s taken away a cheats chance to be at these Games and celebrate under false pretences.”

Mr Sharpe said there had been no positive tests at the Gold Coast Games so far.