Free legal help for Olympic dopers

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.