Fagan handed two-year ban

MARTIN FAGAN has been banned for two years by the Irish SportAnti-Doping Disciplinary Panel for using EPO.

The 28 year old Mullingar athlete failed an out of competition drugs test at his apartment in Tucson, Arizona, on December 10 and, over the weekend, he came out and admitted the violation — an admission that virtually ruled out his option, or the need, to have the “B” sample tested.

This was obviously in his favour when the Disciplinary Panel met yesterday evening.

Athletics Ireland was represented by the CEO, John Foley, and the Chair of Finance and Risk, Cathal Ó Cathain. The Irish Sports Council was represented by Dr Una May, ISC Director of Anti- Doping.

The statement issued on their behalf afterwards stated: ““The Panel found that, contrary to Article 2.1 of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules, Mr Fagan, tested positive for the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolite or marker, recombinant erythropoietin, in a sample of his urine collected on behalf of the Irish Sports Council during out of competition testing at Tucson, Arizona on the 10th December 2011.

“Mr Fagan has been sanctioned, subject to his right to appeal within 14 days, by the imposition on him of a period of ineligibility for two years.

“The Panel has decided that because of the prompt admission of the violation by Mr Fagan the appropriate commencement date for the period of ineligibility is 10th December 2011, the date on which the sample was collected.

“The hearing was held under Article 8 (Disciplinary Process) of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules and this announcement is made pursuant to Article 15 (Public Disclosure) of the Rules.”

ISC Spokesman, Paul McDermott, said last night he believed that would be the end of the matter.

However, he emphasised that they would not infringe on the right to appeal the term of suspension under the process.

“It was a very prompt process in this instance due to the co-operation of all sides — including the panel — to make themselves available at such short notice to get things done as quickly as possible,” he said.

“Indeed the Irish Sports Council would like to acknowledge the co-operation of all the parties concerned to enable the matter to be dealt with promptly.

“I believe this will be the end of it.

“Without infringing on the rights of the individual under the process, we understand there is no reason to assume it will go any further.”