Inevitable first for the GAA

IT had to happen sometime. With all the testing in accordance with world anti-doping procedures it was inevitable some GAA player would eventually test positive for some banned substance or other.

But before people rush to condemn Aidan O’Mahony, it is important to point out that while any breach is serious and must be dealt with rigorously, there is a big difference between deliberately taken performance-enhancing drugs and drugs taken as part of a treatment for asthma.

The positive test involving O’Mahony was for the banned substance salbutamol which was contained in an inhaler he was taking for asthma.

While the rules and penalties are clear and severe, one expects that in this instance, once the appeals process has been completed, we’ll be talking about a careless breach of regulations rather than a cheating one.

Initially, the GAA resisted any efforts by the Irish Sports Council to sign up to any anti-doping charters. The GAA argued that as an amateur organisation its players shouldn’t be subjected to rigorous anti-doping rules. Gradually though it dawned on GAA administrators that it had no choice but to sign up to the WADA regulations.

It did so for two main reason. One, if the GAA decided to remain outside the anti-doping authority, it would almost inevitably mean a reduction, or even a total ban, on state funding for the association. The other reason was from a practical viewpoint. With all the performance-enhancing drugs on the market, GAA players wanting to gain an edge would come under severe pressure to use them. It would have been utterly irresponsible of the GAA to allow the freedom for such a culture to flourish.

But as the cheaters become more and more sophisticated so too did the testing mechanisms. So much so that traces of banned substances used in some medicinal drugs could lead to a positive test. To avert this situation the entire list of banned substances is made available to sports people and if they are taking treatments for medical conditions such as asthma, their doctor should be made aware of it and check that medicine involved doesn’t carry more than the legal amount of any substance that may lead to a positive test.

Salbutamol is one of these. So when the enquiry, and more than likely appeal, takes place, Aidan O’Mahony will have to answer why so much of it was in his inhaler and show that a mistake or careless innocence was involved.

Munster rugby player Frankie Sheahan was originally suspended for two years but on appeal had it reduced to three months for an adverse analytical finding. Olympic swimmer Andrew Bree had a similar experience earlier this year. While in the US he purchased an inhaler which contained a banned substance. He was suspended, in accordance with WADA rules, but was reinstated in time to compete for Ireland in Beijing, following an appeal.

It is almost certain a similar scenario awaits the Rathmore man. One hopes and expects that the outcome will prove carelessness rather than wrongdoing. But it does mark new ground for the GAA. Players and everyone else will have to realise that in terms of anti-doping, there is no room for neglect or carelessness.

Of even more serious consequence, however, is O’Mahony’s reputation. From what we know now, it will be embarrassing and exhausting for the player involved but his reputation should remain intact.

Hopefully, lessons can be learnt so that the first positive test becomes the last positive one in the GAA.