Tomás Ó Sé: No place in GAA for doping

Kerry legend Tomás Ó Sé described the use of performance enhancing drugs in sports as ‘reckless.’

Ó Sé, who revealed he was fearful of using many over-the-counter medicines that could have contained banned substances, was reacting to the news that a Monaghan footballer failed a drugs test earlier this year.

“The ethos of the GAA is amateur and there are ways of getting an edge on an opponent but taking a performance-enhancing substance is not one of them,” said Ó Sé at the launch of RTÉ’s Championship coverage.

“It’s absolutely farcical if that starts creeping into the game. I think it’s reckless. It’s wrong. I don’t know how serious they story is or what exactly is supposed to have happened (in this case) so I can’t comment on that story. But in general, there is no place for any type of doping in the GAA.”

Ó Sé said GAA players must be hugely responsible and consider all medications to be a possible violation unless told otherwise. “I think certain remedies can be taken for minor ailments like colds and flus, and even I knew that when I was playing that there were certain medications I couldn’t take.”

The retired Kerry star made his return to club championship football earlier this month — not with An Ghaeltacht but with Nemo Rangers in Cork. He made a winning debut and Ó Sé admits to enjoying the experience, having played for so many years in Kerry.

“No I don’t find it strange playing with Nemo; sure football is football, no matter where you play it.”

Ó Sé says that there is no danger that he will be returning to the Kerry set-up like his former teammate Paul Galvin.