Irish Cup winner Cavendish stripped of title

Irish Cup winner Jeru Cavendish, under the guardianship of John O’Donoghue, Co. Clare and trained by John Browne, Co. Clare, has been sensationally disqualified almost four months after the event was staged at Patrickswell, Co Limerick.

Although the rumour mill has been buzzing with speculation for some weeks, the news finally came to light yesterday when the ICC announced that tests from the National Greyhound Laboratory revealed the winner of the blue riband event had tested positive for the banned substances, Ephedrine and Phenylpropanolamine.

A meeting of the Hearing Committee, appointed by the ICC Executive Committee, found connections in breach of rule 88 and ordered the forfeiture of the €80,000 prize money and trophies.