A view shows marijuana supply at the "Easy Going" coffeeshop in Maastricht. – Photo by Reuters

MELBOURNE: Marijuana should be removed from the list of performance-enhancing drugs, say Australia's major sporting organisations.

The Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports - which represents cricket, football, Australian Rules football, rugby league, rugby union and tennis - said on Tuesday it believes marijuana should not be grouped with performance-enhancers such as Human Growth Hormone and anabolic steroids which carry two-year bans.

Instead, it says marijuana should be treated only as an illicit substance.

Coalition chief Malcolm Speed will meet the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Wednesday as part of regular discussions, and says anti-doping efforts should concentrate on drug cheats.

''What we've asked for, among a number of other requests, is that where a substance is on the banned list but isn't a performance-enhancing substance, it should be removed,'' said Speed, a former chief executive of the International Cricket Council. ''Cannabis fits into that category.''

Speed said while athletes should still be tested for cannabis, the sporting bodies want the right to punish athletes who test positive under their own policy, rather than the WADA code.

''What we're seeking is to have an anti-doping code that deals with cheating, that deals with performance-enhancing and that is consistent, and cannabis doesn't fit into that,'' he said.

The Australian coalition is also seeking clarification from WADA on therapeutic use exemption, in the case of asthma inhalers and other medicinal substances.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...