Sir, – You state that “The IRFU is the only governing body in Ireland that pays for extra tests” (“Schools are a law unto themselves”, Sport, January 20th).
The Irish Powerlifting Federation was started in 2015 and so is not yet eligible to be supported by the Sport Ireland anti-doping programme.
Nevertheless, the federation invests heavily in a robust anti-doping programme including both in-competition and out-of-competition drug-testing using World Anti-Doping Association (Wada) accredited personnel and laboratories.
The IPF’s anti-doping programme accounts for circa 26 per cent of the federation’s expenditure.
The Irish Powerlifting Federation is also obliged to make a satisfactory annual report on its anti-doping programme to the International Powerlifting Federation, its governing body. – Yours, etc,
Dr TARA CONLON,
Anti-Doping Officer;
ROB BURKE,
Vice-President and
National Team Manager,
Irish Powerlifting
Federation,
Dublin 9.