IABA and ISC uphold ban on Sweeney

European youth boxing silver medallist Gary Sweeney’s appeal against a nine-month ban for a doping offence was rejected yesterday, while his coach Martin Sweeney was suspended for 27 months for providing the 18-year-old with a prohibited substance.

Gary Sweeney tested positive for the presence of a prohibited substance during in-competition testing last October and was banned for nine months.

He appealed the severity of the ban but a hearing has found his punishment was “an appropriate sanction’’.

A joint-statement from the Irish Sports Council (ISC) and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) said: “The appeal panel determined that Mr Sweeney had been afforded fair procedures throughout the disciplinary process.

“The appeal panel found that in the circumstances of the case that nine months is an appropriate sanction.’’

As Sweeney’s sentence was backdated, he will be free to return to competitive action in July.

Martin Sweeney has been banned for 27 months after he admitted providing Gary Sweeney with furosemide.

“Mr Martin Sweeney admitted to the panel a violation of Article 2.8 of the rules by providing a prohibited substance to an athlete, namely, Gary Sweeney to whom he is coach,’’ the ISC and IABA statement read.

“The panel noted that this is the first case in which an anti-doping rule violation has been admitted by or established in the case of a coach.’’