Anti-doping unit staff at Sport Ireland see average pay rise 24%

There were three anti-doping rule violations last year, each resulting in a four-year ban

Sport Ireland publishes the Anti Doping Review 2020: Pictured at the announcement are Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD, and Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers TD, with, from left, Chairman of Sport Ireland Kieran Mulvey, Sport Ireland Chief Executive John Treacy, Sport Ireland Director of Participation & Ethics Dr Una May. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Staff at Sport Ireland’s anti-doping unit received an average pay increase of 24% last year, with the overall cost of its anti-doping programme totalling €1.9m. That figure was roughly on par with its 2019 costs despite a 20% reduction in drug testing due to the pandemic.

Sport Ireland spent almost €840,000 on drug testing in 2020, well down on the €966,841 it spent in 2019, but there was a sizable increase in staff salaries, with costs rising from €260,676 in 2019 to €323,528 in 2020.