O’Mahony confident of clearing his name

KERRY footballer Aidan O’Mahony is ‘absolutely satisfied’ he will be cleared of any wrong doing following his failed drugs test.

O’Mahony last night issued a statement through his solicitor, after it emerged the sample he provided after the All-Ireland SFC final defeat to Tyrone displayed an ‘adverse analytical finding regarding the therapeutic use of salbutamol.’

The former All Star said that the levels recorded are consistent with his therapeutic use of inhaled salbutamol which he uses to treat an asthmatic condition he developed as a child.

In the statement issued through Daly Derham Donnelly, solicitors, All-Ireland medal winner O’Mahony outlined the background to the controversial situation.

“I have suffered from asthma since childhood,” read the statement. “I notified the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Irish Sports Council with regard to my asthmatic condition and the use of Salbutamol by way of inhaler to treat this condition and I obtained from the Irish Sports Council a Therapeutic Use Exemption.

“I was randomly tested after the All-Ireland Final on the 21st of September, 2008, a concentration of salbutamol was shown in my sample and I must now show to the Gaelic Athletic Association/Irish Sports Council that this finding was the consequence of the therapeutic use of inhaled Salbutamol and I and my medical advisors are absolutely satisfied that the level of salbutamol in my sample is wholly consistent with my therapeutic use of inhaled salbutamol.

“I would be happy to meet with the Press to give further detail once my hearing has been concluded and it would not be appropriate to give any further detail until after the hearing.”