Minister criticises 'dopey' drug cheat ad

The communications minister has described as "dopey" a Sportsbet ad featuring Olympic drug cheat Ben Johnson.

The ad - which features the sprinter stripped of his 100m gold medal from the Seoul Olympics - is being investigated by both the Australian Communications Media Authority and the Advertising Standards Bureau.

Crossbench senator Nick Xenophon referred the ad to ACMA, and raised the issue during a Senate hearing in Canberra on Thursday.

Minister Mitch Fifield agreed it shouldn't be on air, and described the ad, which pokes fun at performance-enhancing drugs, as "dopey" and "ill-advised".

Acting ACMA chairman Richard Bean said he was unable to yet report the investigation's outcome.

A Sportsbet has removed the ad from TV coverage of live sport in light of the fuss, but insists the commercial is in line with good taste.