Lombard ban 'should be huge deterrent'

A spokesman for the Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) has said they hoped Cathal Lombard's ban would act as a warning to anyone considering violating doping rules.

The Irish Olympic athlete who admitted taking performance enhancing drug EPO has been banned from the sport for two years, it was confirmed today.

Pierce O'Callaghan said: “It should be a huge deterrent to other athletes.

“In a small country like Ireland Cathal has attracted huge media attention which has put outstanding pressure on his family and friends.

“But it has been dealt with quickly and effectively and that kind of ethos can get through.”

The 10,000 and 5,000metres runner was one of Ireland’s hottest medal prospects for the Athens Games until failing a drugs test on July 11.

The Irish Sports Council (ISC) has now launched an investigation to establish exactly how widespread his EPO use had become.

Lombard had been closely monitored by the ISC after a dramatic improvement in his performance in recent months.

He smashed his own personal best by three minutes to claim the Irish national 10,000m record earlier this season although officials have confirmed the title will not now be ratified.

He also faces the possibility of losing all track times recorded in the past two years.

Lombard had claimed that his dramatic improvement was down to training full-time and work with Joe Doonan, the former coach of 1998 London Marathon winner Catherina McKiernan.

But he admitted sourcing EPO, which is widely available from internet websites, earlier this week.

The athlete was caught when customs officials noticed a suspect delivery and tipped off the Irish Medicines Board. It in turn notified the ISC, which runs the country’s anti-doping programme.

When the Council received the information last month, Lombard was at a training camp in Switzerland. He was tested immediately by the Swiss Olympic Council and his urine sample showed traces of EPO.

There is a two to three-day window to detect the banned substance before it disappears from an athlete’s system.

Lombard was disqualified from competing in Athens and forced to return home in shame from his Olympic training camp as officials demanded an explanation.

In a formal response to the AAI he admitted making a “grave error” and expressed a wish to join the fight against doping.

He is the first Irish athlete to admit to knowingly taking EPO, which increases an athlete’s endurance by boosting the red blood cell count.