I want to fight doping in sport, says athlete

DISGRACED Irish Olympian Cathal Lombard, who tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug, wants to devote his energies to tackling drugs in sport.

The 28-year-old Cork solicitor, who will not appeal the findings of the dope test, also wants to see the 10,000m title he took from Mark Carroll returned to its rightful holder.

"As unbelievable and ironic as it may seem, I am strongly against doping in sport. It would be my greatest wish now to join the fight against doping and work in the anti-doping area. That may be impossible now and some may laugh at the suggestion, but my wish is entirely serious," he stated.

Yesterday, the Athletic Association of Ireland (AAI) received a formal statement from Lombard after which a two-year ban was imposed on the runner.

Pierce O'Callaghan, spokesman for the AAI said: "It's very unlikely that his record will stand in light of these tests."

Lombard shaved 13 seconds off his Leevale club-mate Mark Carroll's Irish record in a race in California earlier this season.

There was no sign of activity at Mr Lombard's family home on Cork's Model Farm Road yesterday afternoon. The family, who asked for privacy on Monday, did not respond to requests for an interview.

The AAI welcomed Lombard's acceptance of his suspension and said it was happy at his decision to waive his right for the analysis of the 'B' sample and forego his right to a hearing.

The Irish Sports Council confirmed yesterday that Lombard will no longer receive funding after testing positive for EPO, the drug which he ordered on the internet.

In an interview on RTÉ Radio, Council chief executive John Treacy said Lombard might have to repay some of the €20,000 in funding he has received from the council in the past two years.

In his statement to the AAI, Lombard said he hoped to make a positive contribution to athletics in the future.

"I believe that athletics in Ireland is generally a clean sport.... What I have done is very negative for the sport and I deeply regret that. I cannot now change the past, but I can contribute positively to the sport at some future point. Now is not the right time, I have caused a lot of hurt.

"Regardless of the outcome of the disciplinary process against me, out of my respect for Mark Carroll and in the interest of the sport I want the Irish 10,000m record set by me in April annulled and returned to Mark as soon as possible."

Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue said it was now up to the rest of the Irish Olympic team to lift morale after the scandal.

He said the athlete had "dishonoured the Olympic ideal at a time when the Olympics are returning to their home".