Tony Abbott has slammed the “overdramatic” media conference held in Canberra more than a year ago which launched investigations into drug abuse in NRL and AFL.

The prime minister was asked on Monday whether there needed to be a faster resolution for players who still have a cloud hanging over them after the so-called “blackest day in Australian sport” foreshadowed anti-doping investigations into the NRL and AFL.



He side-stepped the question, and instead took aim at that February 7 announcement, which was fronted by the former Labor government’s sports minister Kate Lundy and justice minister Jason Clare.



“I think it is unfortunate that the reputation of Australian sport has been blackened as a result of that rather overdramatic announcement here in Canberra about a year ago,” Abbott said.



He added the whole matter could have been handled a lot better.



“Australian sport by and large is clean and fair. I think it is unfortunate that the reputation of Australian sports people generally was impacted.”



Lundy and Clare appeared at the media conference with the head of the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and the bosses of Australia’s major sporting codes the NRL, AFL, ARU, FFA and Cricket Australia.



They announced that ACC investigations had unearthed evidence of possible banned drug use and links to organised crime.



It prompted former Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) chief Richard Ings to declare: “This is not a black day for Australian sport, this is the blackest day for Australian sport.”



ASADA’s investigations have centred largely on the supplements regimes used at NRL club Cronulla and AFL club Essendon.



Both clubs have been sanctioned by their sport’s administrations over the governance of those programs but are still waiting to learn if any players face suspensions.