"Do your research on the shit & watched the documentary vaxxed ..." The tweet was liked by fellow athlete, footballer Archie Thompson who has also promoted anti-vaccination in the past.

The World Health Organisation says the 1998 study, which raised concerns about a possible link between measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism, was later found to be "seriously flawed and fraudulent" and was retracted by the journal that published it.

"There is no evidence of a link between MMR vaccine and autism or autistic disorders," the World Health Organisation advises.

Paralympian Kurt Fearnley said Mundine was a "peanut" and should see first-hand the effects of diseases such as polio that can be prevented through vaccinations.

"You got many mates with Polio? I do. A heap. From countries that didn’t have the luxury of vaccinations you peanut...." Fearnely said.