Murphy suspended for breach of drug rules

CYCLIST Conor Murphy was last night suspended from competition with immediate effect until midnight August 11 for contravention of International Cycling Union (UCI) anti-doping regulations.

After a routine urine test following the final stage of the Tour of Ulster on May 5, Murphy provided a sample that contained the banned substance, pseudoephedrine, at a level above the UCI reporting threshold for the substance of 25 micrograms per millilitre.

“Prior to the Ulster race I was prescribed a medicine for a chest infection by my doctor, which I did not realise contained a banned substance,” 20-year-old Murphy said. “With hindsight I should have checked with my doctor and the pharmacist that, as an athlete, the medicine was allowable for me to have taken,” he added.

Cycling Ireland chief executive Stuart Hallam said: “The independent panel accepted that there was no intention on the part of Conor to enhance his performance and Cycling Ireland fully accepts that this is an unfortunate case of carelessness on his part.

“Yet again it is necessary to re-enforce the message that it is the athlete’s responsibility to check any medicament or supplement which they are planning to take.

“Any doctor or pharmacist has access to the information about banned substances for athletes. Furthermore, it is available on the UCI website, other brand-specific websites and Cycling Ireland will always advise, so there really are no excuses for ignorance.” The panel, consisting of a barrister, a doctor and a sporting expert, acknowledged Murphy’s acceptance that he had made a mistake and they awarded a suspension less than the six months available to them under UCI guidelines.

Murphy had not requested the available counter-analysis of the urine sample when he was informed of the UK Sports Council Drug Free Sport unit findings on May 21.