Depressed Fagan was at lowest ebb, says coach

MARTIN FAGAN’S coachKeith Kelly last nightexpressed hope that the Mullingar man’s positive drug test will not “shake the foundations of Irish athletics” ahead of the Olympics.

Kelly last night also pleaded with the public to consider Fagan’s battle with depression before passing judgment.

Kelly said: “I hope the country allows Martin time to fix his problems. This shouldn’t shake the foundations of Irish athletics. I hope people are sympathetic to his problems and it could be a positive to many other athletes who are feeling the same way. Yes people will (say he is a drugs cheat). But anyone that knows Martin knows he was winning national titles as a youngster. I saw him in training (and saw his) ability to tolerate sustained long efforts on the road. None of those performances required drugs. He turned to drugs when he was at the lowest of the low. I hope people don’t judge his career on this. I knew Martin was suffering. He told me he had seen a therapist and was on antidepressants. He was putting running before his mental health and came off the medication. Running was his medicine. Martin would have taken anything to just feel normal.