‘No hood-winking’ of doping checks

Irish sports chiefs have insisted that athletes are not hood-winking "relentless" anti-doping checks, despite concerns the nation’s detection rate is behind international levels.

The Irish Sports Council made the claim after it emerged just three positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs occurred last year out of 868 checks.

Speaking at the Dáil public accounts committee, ISC chief executive John Treacy said the body’s anti-doping systems are “relentless”.