Irish athlete fails drug test

An unnamed Irish male athlete has failed a drugs test with less than a week to go to the start of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Whether or not the athlete in question is one of the 15 track and field stars bound for the Greek capital has not been answered, but the Irish Sports Council has notified Athletics Ireland of the violation.

He has until Tuesday to make a formal response to the governing body.

Patsy McGonagle, team manager of the 2000 Irish Olympic team, outlined the initial procedure.

"The Sports Council contacted us yesterday regarding the incident and we notified the athlete and his family today. It was the normal procedure in this situation," he said.

Unable to release the athlete's name, McGonagle added: "It's certainly a bad blow for the team on the eve of the Games but we can't say whether he was one of the 15 going. Just as we cannot say yet whether the test was out-of-competition or otherwise.

"He has until Tuesday to respond, but of course he can make himself known before than if he wishes."

Coming at the end of what was an encouraging week for Irish athletics with Maria McCambridge's late qualification for the Athens 5000m, the 56-year-old Donegal man said: "The Olympic Council of Ireland certainly made us aware of the deadlines for qualification. It was their ball game all along, but we appreciate Maria being allowed in at this stage."