NSW: Barristers offer free legal advice to Olympic athletes

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2000
NSW: Barristers offer free legal advice to Olympic athletes

Olympic athletes accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs will have access to
free legal advice under a scheme launched by the New South Wales Bar Association.

A team of 50 volunteer barristers will be on call 24 hours a day for what's believed
to be the first-ever service of its kind for the Olympics.

The Olympic Pro Bono Scheme will be available to Australian and international athletes
for any matters before the Court of Arbitration in Sport or the Australian criminal courts.

But MICHAEL SLATTERY QC, one of the organisers of the scheme, says it won't apply to
current disputes over inclusion in the Australian national team.

The aim is for barristers to be on hand for the athletes once they arrive at the Olympic
village, with the scheme running from September 2 to October 1.

Mr SLATTERY says the majority of cases will be for positive drug tests but he's denied
barristers will be offering free help to drug cheats.

The scheme may be extended to cover the Paralympics.

AAP RTV ab/sb/nf/jn

KEYWORD: OLY LAW (SYDNEY)

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