Sean Cavanagh: Players willing to take risk on banned substances
The three-time All-Ireland medallist was speaking in the context of new anti-doping measures, in place since January 1, which allow for drug testers to ask players for both blood and urine samples.
Cavanagh said he had no problem with being asked to provide blood as well as urine, though he hit out at the amount of time the whole process can take.
He said, for example, that team-mates Peter Harte and Colm Cavanagh, his younger brother, took several hours to give urine samples after last August’s All-Ireland qualifier win over Sligo and missed the team meal at a nearby hotel afterwards.
Cavanagh acknowledged, however, that the testing measures are ultimately designed to root out drugs cheats, and the former footballer of the year revealed his belief that there are definitely some of them in the game.
“You know, five, six, seven or eight years ago, whenever we were being tested, 10 years ago, the worst thing you could fall foul of was a dodgy Lemsip,” said Cavanagh.
“Nowadays there’s that much proteins, branched chain amino acids, I don’t understand half of the stuff the boys are taking, to be honest.
“I suppose you have to recognise that there is a risk there and guys are taking that chance. I have no doubt there are players who are probably taking the chance. You have to accept that you do want that level playing field. I don’t have an issue with the doping (tests) as such. It’s just the way in which it is done.”
Cavanagh, 33 yesterday, said that he has been tested, on average, once a year since his inter-county career began. He said that has no worries of a positive test as he is “still stuck in the Tracker Bar and Jaffa Cake era of 10 years ago”.
But he outlined how much of an imposition the testing procedures have been until now with the addition of blood testing, alongside urine testing, only adding to that burden.
“We’ve seen it at training on a Tuesday night, an hour from home only and guys still sitting there at a quarter to 12 at night waiting to give their sample when they have to get up for work the next morning at seven o’clock,” continued Cavanagh.
“Whilst you understand that it has to be done, the way in which it is done sometimes can be frustrating for players in that we’re treated as professionals but we’re not professionals and that can have an impact on guys’ lives as well.”
A Monaghan player tested positive for a banned substance early last year. Cavanagh believes many players aren’t properly educated about what is and isn’t legal, describing the issue as a “minefield”.
“There’s that much available out there in terms of supplements,” said the Moy man. “A lot of guys just aren’t educated enough to know what they can and can’t take and there’s that many things on the internet, some of them saying they are ‘batch tested’ and what not.
“It’s a complete minefield at the moment. I’m not into all that, I’m still stuck in the Tracker Bar and Jaffa Cake era of 10 years ago! But look, some guys are hugely into it nowadays so I’d say there probably is a chance, whether purposefully or not, that there are guys that are playing that have something in the system that shouldn’t be there. That’s just a fact of life.”
Former Ireland captain Cavanagh, a father of two, is back with Tyrone to try and capture a fourth All-Ireland medal in 2016. The early signs are good, with the Red Hands backing up last year’s run to the championship’s last four with pre-season O Fiaich Cup and Dr McKenna Cup titles, while they’ve also won their first two Allianz League games in Division 2.
“There’s no such thing as a fairytale ending to anyone’s career but I see a good team around me and I want to be around that right now and see where it takes us,” said Cavanagh.
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