ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt will stand down in May, ending a three-year stint which included one of the most controversial periods in Australian sport.
McDevitt took up the role in May 2014 and led the anti-doping organisation during the long-running Essendon supplements saga which saw 34 past and present players banned.
Sport Minister Greg Hunt said McDevitt's departure was entirely of his own choosing and thanked him for protecting Australian sport during his tenure.
"Last week I advised the Minister of my decision not to take up the offer of another three year term," McDevitt said.
"My time with ASADA has been both challenging and rewarding. I have had the opportunity to work with people who are very passionate and committed to clean sport, and I have no doubt they will continue this work in the face of new challenges domestically and globally."
"My experience has convinced me that we face an ongoing threat of doping. It is more sophisticated, more readily available and harder to detect."
"There are people willing to push the boundaries with experimental substances and methods which have not been clinically tested or approved for human use."
"The 'win at all costs' mentality harms athletes, destroys fair play and equitable competition and does irreparable damage to the credibility of sport. ASADA is trying its best to protect clean athletes and their right to compete on a level playing field."
"Sport is a multi-billion dollar industry in Australia and an $800 billion industry globally. We have to protect the integrity of that industry. Beyond dollars though, the reputation of Australian sporting excellence and the achievements of our athletes is just extraordinary and we have to jealously guard our reputation for fair play."
"I am sure that ASADA will continue to work hard with sporting codes and the 85 sports who have anti-doping policies to help them to target harden their sports and thereby their reputations. There is a growing realisation that an investment in sports integrity should be viewed not as a business cost but as a business enabler."
"During my tenure, I am proud to have overseen a number of positive changes for ASADA and more broadly sport in Australia, including the redevelopment of ASADA's Operating Model and the enhancement of our intelligence and investigative capabilities, enabling us to better target those high-risk sports and individuals,"
"Furthermore, we have ramped up our engagement with sporting organisations across Australia to assist them to develop and implement strong anti-doping frameworks so they are able to better protect themselves and their athletes against the scourge of drugs in sport," he added.
with AAP
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