ANTI-AGEING clinics have been directly linked to widespread doping within Australia's sporting community, with some clinics identified as having links to organised criminal identities.
The revelation was in the Australian Crime Commission's report of a 12-month investigation into the integrity of Australian sport, which found that the anti-ageing market had expanded significantly in recent years.
The report states that anti-ageing clinics were found selling a wide range of performance and image enhancing drugs. Some clinics identified were a ''major source'' of them due to their capacity to supply pharmaceutical quality World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited drugs directly to athletes, in some cases without a prescription.
''In many cases, anti-ageing clinics are marketing their services directly to athletes by offering services such as hormone profiling and hormone-based training regimes to enhance athletic performance,'' the report said.
Dr Robin Willcourt, from Melbourne anti-ageing clinic Epigenx Integrated Medicine, defended the industry.
''You've got the occasional idiot who comes in and wants to fill himself up with bucket loads of growth hormone and testosterone because they want to look like Mr Ape, but they're not your typical person,'' he said.
A spokeswoman for the Medical Board of Australia said anyone who had concerns about treatments being provided by a registered medical practitioner should bring it to the attention of the board.
with Kate Hagan and Rachel Wells
