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THE Royal Australian Navy has sacked five sailors for steroid abuse and other serious offences and another five face dismissal after a major investigation into drug trafficking at the navy's biggest base at Garden Island in Sydney.
One of the men was also convicted of drug-related offences in a civilian court and a second was let go when the navy discovered that he had been convicted for larceny and then tested positive to steroids.
A third returned a positive drug test and had been suspended without pay while he faced criminal charges including assault.
The fourth sailor was sacked after repeated offences involving alcohol abuse were followed by a positive drug test.
Number five returned a positive test and was immediately dismissed.
Steroid abuse is widespread in the military and investigators have been targeting physical training instructors who have been among the most common suppliers of anabolic steroids to troops and sailors.
The illicit chemicals are used to build body mass and strength and are linked to dangerous side-effects including aggressive behaviour.
Another five Sydney sailors from the Fleet Support Unit at Fleet Base East at HMAS Kuttabul on Garden Island are facing the sack for drug and other offences while four have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The sailors were part of a drug ring operating at the base when police and defence investigators raided the facility late last year.
It is understood that firearms and illicit drugs including steroids and ecstasy were found during the raids.
The navy has a zero-tolerance policy on illicit substances and Navy Chief Vice Admiral Russ Crane said all of the sailors sacked had been dismissed because of their drug taking.
"There are some civil charges pending," Vice Admiral Crane said.
"They are out of the navy, whether the police are progressing separate criminal action I am not sure."
Several other navy bases including the main training establishment at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria and HMAS Cairns in Queensland have also been investigated and sailors have been charged with drug offences.
As part of its zero-tolerance policy the navy tests a minimum of 25 per cent of its members each year.
One of the men was also convicted of drug-related offences in a civilian court and a second was let go when the navy discovered that he had been convicted for larceny and then tested positive to steroids.
A third returned a positive drug test and had been suspended without pay while he faced criminal charges including assault.
The fourth sailor was sacked after repeated offences involving alcohol abuse were followed by a positive drug test.
Number five returned a positive test and was immediately dismissed.
Steroid abuse is widespread in the military and investigators have been targeting physical training instructors who have been among the most common suppliers of anabolic steroids to troops and sailors.
The illicit chemicals are used to build body mass and strength and are linked to dangerous side-effects including aggressive behaviour.
Another five Sydney sailors from the Fleet Support Unit at Fleet Base East at HMAS Kuttabul on Garden Island are facing the sack for drug and other offences while four have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The sailors were part of a drug ring operating at the base when police and defence investigators raided the facility late last year.
It is understood that firearms and illicit drugs including steroids and ecstasy were found during the raids.
The navy has a zero-tolerance policy on illicit substances and Navy Chief Vice Admiral Russ Crane said all of the sailors sacked had been dismissed because of their drug taking.
"There are some civil charges pending," Vice Admiral Crane said.
"They are out of the navy, whether the police are progressing separate criminal action I am not sure."
Several other navy bases including the main training establishment at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria and HMAS Cairns in Queensland have also been investigated and sailors have been charged with drug offences.
As part of its zero-tolerance policy the navy tests a minimum of 25 per cent of its members each year.
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