‘Sad day’ for Irish sprinter Steven as dope ban confirmed

Irish sprinter Steven Colvert believes he has suffered a miscarriage of justice on the joint announcement by Athletics Ireland and the Irish Sports Council that the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel — determined that he has committed an anti-doping rule violation yesterday.

Colvert, who runs for Crusaders, has been sanctioned by a period of ineligibility of two years commencing on June 17, 2014 — the date on which he was provisionally suspended, subject to rights of appeal within 21 days of today’s date under the Irish Anti-Doping Rules.

In an out of competition test carried out on May 20, 2014, he provided a sample which tested positive for the presence of a prohibited substance, recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO).

“I was in an exam in DCU on May 20 when drugs testers from the Irish Sports Council met me outside the exam hall and notified me that I had to take an out of competition test and I duly provided urine and blood samples,” Colvert exclusively told the Irish Examiner on June 19 last year.

Colverty took to Twitter to issue his response to yesterday’s announcement and that he will return to the sport in September. “Today is a sad day,” he affirmed. “After spending the last year trying to clear my name of the doping allegations, a decision has been made. Unfortunately the panel has found me guilty of doping. Something I have always been strongly against and will continue to stand against.

“Miscarriages of justice come in many forms, unfortunately this time it has involved me. I will be returning to the sport I love in September with my head held high safe in the knowledge that I have never doped.

“I know this result is just as disappointing for the supporters of Irish Athletics as it is for me. I’d like to thank anyone who has supported me and those that will continue to do so. I’m sure many people have various questions about different aspects of what is going on. I will continue my efforts to clear my name.”