The Gaelic Players Association has released a statement in respect of the un-named Monaghan player, who is currently before the GAA’s Anti-Doping Hearings Committee, after an adverse finding in an out-of-competition test last February.
Describing the player as “a trial panellist”, the statement adds that although he is not a member of the GPA, the players’ body is “nonetheless providing him with personal and professional support”.
It concludes by saying the GPA “will be making no further comment on the matter until the Hearings Committee has concluded its deliberations” and reiterates the organisation’s commitment to “supporting the Anti-Doping protocols”.
The player whose case was investigated by the Irish Sports Council (ISC) after he reportedly tested positive for steroids is unlikely to have his hearing concluded for a number of weeks.
Under the GAA’s anti-doping procedures the ISC has informed Croke Park of its findings and the matter is now with the association’s Anti-Doping Hearings Committee (ADHC), an independent body that enforces the ISC anti-doping rules within the GAA.
The player concerned is believed to have featured for Monaghan in pre-season activities including Ulster’s secondary provincial competition the McKenna Cup but did not play a role in the recent league campaign. He was tested in February and has been provisionally suspended under rule since the test result and pending the outcome of his hearing.
It’s more than six years since the GAA’s only previous episode of a positive drugs test, when Kerry footballer Aidan O’Mahony’s use of Salbutamol, used in asthma inhalers, was deemed to be for medicinal reasons in keeping with his therapeutic use exemption (TUE).
Even though the levels of the substance were higher than permitted, a statement said that they were “consistent with the inhalation of the substance” and that, “its use was not intended to enhance his sporting performance or mask . . . a performance-enhancing substance . . . ”
News of the latest case emerged at the end of a week in which the ISC announced that it would be blood testing Gaelic games players from next year as well as collecting urine samples, as has been the case since drug testing was agreed with the GAA in 2001 and implemented the following year.
This announcement was made at the launch of the ISC’s Anti-Doping Review last week, during which it was reported that there had been 89 drug tests conducted on GAA players.
The GAA’s Medical Scientific and Welfare Committee will be meeting the ISC at the end of the month to finalise details of the blood testing procedures.
Testing is supported by the Gaelic Players Association, who have not been available for comment on the current issue but are believed to be offering support and assistance to player concerned and are expected to issue a statement today.
As part of its protocols the GAA’s Central Council in agreement with the ISC established (Official Guide Part 1, rule 1.15) the ADHC, an independent body which organises and conducts hearings such as the current one.
Like the independent arbitration committees set up under the Disputes Resolution Committee, the ADHC comprises three members – in this case one each from a legal, medical and GAA administrative background. The chair of the ADHC in the O'Mahony case was Adrian Colton QC and he is believed still to hold that position.
The GAA has made no statement on the matter and its Anti-Doping Officer, Feargal McGill, the association’s Head of Games Administration and Player Welfare, is currently abroad, although he has been handling the issue over the past few months.
