SYDNEY — Australia's Olympic athletes must agree to having their bags and other possessions searched by team officials who Friday introduced a new ban on sleeping drugs from the day they are selected for Rio. The hardline stance comes in the wake of swimming great Grant Hackett seeking treatment last year for addiction to the prescription drug zolpidem, sold as Stilnox in Australia. Members of the nation's swim team also came under scrutiny at the 2012 London Olympics after some took the sleeping tablet at a pre-Games camp. The Australian Olympic Committee introduced a ban on “certain hypnotic medications” three weeks before the London Olympics, but have decided to tighten the rules further. — Reuters
