GAA drug tests here to stay, says council

The Irish Sports Council will not be changing its drug-testing procedures following calls from a doctor to abandon the process for GAA players.

Kilkenny senior hurling doctor Tadhg Crowley questioned the value of drug testing GAA players, given their historical clean record.

However the Irish Sports Council confirmed yesterday the process is not confined to catching cheats, it also provides reassurance to players and spectators that there is nothing untoward taking place off the field.

“We have a programme which tests athletes for the benefit of athletes and we’re proud of Irish athletes testing,” a spokesperson said.

“The GAA is not regarded as high risk but it is played by a lot of people and we have an anti-doping position in place. Any high level sport should enjoy the confidence of the sport.

“The idea of testing is to reassure participants and the public that nothing untoward is going on and it is being played at a high level which is clean and fair. It’s focus is not to catch people but to reassure and educate people that our national and international athletes are tested and there is a disincentive there not to stray.

“It takes a lot of education for people to know what they can and cannot take. For the GAA we’re 10 years into that and we can’t step back now.”

Crowley also raised the issue of recreational drug use and how one mistake in that area could haunt an inter-county player for the rest of their lives. He cited gardaí, teachers and doctors who, if testing positive, could lose their jobs, even if the drug was passively consumed.

However the Irish Sports Council reiterated that all inter-county players should be aware of banned substances and make sure they avoid them, given the regularity of testing.

“Anti-doping tests are only for performance-enhancing drugs. We’re not part of the legal system or the criminal justice department.

“We test inter-county players competing at a high level. I’m not sure a bainisteoir would be delighted if his player was at a party.

“If cocaine appears in a player’s system it’s a banned substance and is on a list of banned substances for athletes. If you’re on a programme, there’s a list of banned substances, no matter who you are.”