The Australian Crime Commission, in a report released on Thursday, disclosed that some of the country's athletic coaches, sports scientists and support staff at sports clubs were behind or allowed the used of prohibited performance-enhancing drugs which were distributed by organised crime groups.

The report, based on a 12-month probe, comes on the heels of seven-time Tour de France champion cyclist Lance Armstrong admitting to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Besides the drug use, the investigation - named Project Aperio - found that personal relationships between professional athletes and organised crime groups could be behind suspected cases of match fixing and manipulation of betting markets.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare described the findings of the investigation as shocking and would surely disgust Aussie sports fans.

While the probe found clear similarities between the findings of a U.S. anti-doping agency that looked into the case of Mr Armstrong, Mr Clare pointed out that the threat to Australian professional sports is current, crosses sporting codes and is evolving.

John Lawler, chief executive of the commission, said that while the agency hopes to file criminal charges against those involved, he declined to pinpoint individuals, clubs or codes being investigated. Ahead of the filing of charges, federal ministers dared those with knowledge of unethical or illegal behaviour to come out and cooperate so they may be spared of severe penalties.

"It's the blackest day in Australian sport. The Australian public hopes that Australian sport is clean. Today we saw the underbelly," said Richard Ing, former head of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA).

With the implication of doctors and pharmacists in supplying the drugs, some of which are not approved for human use, the Australian Medical Association said these medical practitioners would be answerable to their consciences.

"We don't support GPs that don't take part in good medical practice, which means looking after patients' health," AMA Council of General Practice Chair Dr. Brian Morton said on Thursday.

This is not the first time that Australian professional athletes have been caught in doping scandal. In 2010, the ASADA tested nine sportsmen positive for banned substances.

Outside Australia, the International Olympics Committee has taken back medals from about 60 athletes since the 1966 Summer Olympics for infractions, majority of which are doping-related. Included in the list is Mr Armstrong.

In the past two Summer Olympics in 2008 and 2012, eight athletes were stripped of their medals. They were:

1. Soslan Tigiev, bronze medalist from Uzbekistan for wrestling, men's freestyle 74 kg (2012)

2. Nadzeya Ostapchuk, gold medalist from Belarus for athletics, women's shot put (2012)

3. Rashid Ramzi, gold medalist from Bahrain for athletics, men's 1500 m (2008)

4. Tony Andre Hansen, bronze medalist from Norway for equestrian, team show jumping (2008)

5. Lyudmyla Bionska, silver medalist from Ukraine for athletics, women's hetatlon (2008)

6. Jong Su Kim, silver and bronze medalists from North Korea for shooting, men's 50 m and 10 m air pistol, respectively (2008)

7. Ara Abrahamian, bronze medalist from Sweden for wrestling, Greco-Roman 84 kg (2008)

8. Olga Pyleva, silver medalist from Russia for biathlon,women's individual (2008)

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