IRFU and Cork Con join broad welcome to downgrade ban

THE IRFU and Frankie Sheahan’s club Cork Constitution have both welcomed the decision to reduce the Munster hooker’s ban.

The IRFU, Sheahan’s employers, issued the more guarded response of the two to the fact his two-year suspension imposed by European Rugby Cup Ltd of a doping offence was yesterday downgraded to three months, with a fine of 5,000.

In a statement, the IRFU said: “The Union also notes the lessons to be learned by players and administrators as highlighted in the Appeal Tribunal’s findings regarding the rules relating to completion of forms about drugs and other medications. Notwithstanding the seriousness of the issues, the IRFU wishes Mr Sheahan well in his future playing career, which resumes forthwith, and with his asthma-related medical condition.”

The IRFU also repeated its commitment to the anti-doping programmes of the Irish Sports Council, the International Rugby Board and the ERC and added: “The IRFU’s determination to be proactive in this regard is outlined in the statistic that some 103 tests were carried out in the past season, from club to international team level.”

Those claims were endorsed last night by a leading pharmacist. Dr Audrey Kinahan is a consultant and founder of Irish pharmacy website eirpharm.com, which is endorsed by the Irish Sports Council for its online database of all over-the-counter medicines, which are cross-referenced to see if they contain substances prohibited by the International Olympic Committee.

She said: “I think the IRFU are the leaders in anti-doping in Ireland, to be honest. They pay for the Irish Sports Council to do extra tests and implement it at junior level which they are not required to. Rugby is relatively well controlled, I would say.

Dr Kinahan also said the Sheahan verdict would be seen as a significant landmark for athletes who are asthma sufferers. While saying eirpharm.com did not comment on specific individuals, she added: “I would say that the current IOC anti-doping code aims to recognise that athletes like anybody else may need medications, be they asthmatics, diabetics or have some other illness. The WADA (World Anti-Doping) code intends to review limits on prohibited substances such as the threshold of 1000mgs for salbutomol in light of any new scientific evidence which may come to light form time to time. The new WADA code will be implemented in January 2004 but the list of prohibited substances has yet to be published.

Cork Con, meanwhile were delighted with successful appeal of their player but asked for more clarification by sports authorities on the use of inhalers by asthma sufferers.

“President Billy Dowling and the executive of Cork Constitution FC wish to express their pleasure at the decision of the ERC Appeal Tribunal in the case of ERC versus Frankie Sheahan,” a club statement said. “Their decision fully vindicates the position taken at the outset by Frankie and his family. We look forward to seeing Frankie resume his rugby playing career for club, province and country and we wish him and his family well for the future. We note that this case has been followed very closely worldwide and we hope that the decision of the Tribunal will have far reaching positive effects for all sportsmen and women who are sufferers from asthma.

“We repeat our call made in an earlier statement that both the IRFU and the Irish Sports Council clarify their position in regard to the use of salbutamol Inhalers at the earliest opportunity.” The Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) said the decision to overturn the two-year ban handed down to Frankie Sheahan was a hugely important decision for all asthmatics playing rugby, and indeed all asthmatics playing sport. “A situation like this should never be allowed to occur again,” said IRUPA chief executive Niall Woods.