ISC: No Irish doping epidemic

THE Irish Sports Council last night insisted the country “does not have a particular problem with doping” in the wake of the latest drugs scandal to hit athletics.

Martin Fagan, who represented Ireland at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and was aiming to qualify for the London Games this year, yesterday admitted he was guilty of taking the blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO).

The 28-year-old will appear before an Athletics Ireland hearing and the Irish Sports Council in Dublin today. He is set to acknowledge his offence, which carries a mandatory two-year ban.