‘Astounded’ Sheahan on offensive ahead of doping appeal

IRELAND and Munster hooker Frankie Sheahan has gone on the offensive ahead of his intended appeal against a two-year doping ban, saying he and his family were “astounded and extremely dismayed” with the decision of the ERC Judicial Tribunal last week.

In a statement over the weekend from Sheahan and his family, in which he confirmed his intention to appeal against the ban, the international said he was dismayed not only by the decision itself, but also with the manner in which the decision was presented in the official statement issued by ERC Ltd on Friday last.

Sheahan maintains that in that statement, the independent Judicial Tribunal, while producing figures to justify the suspension imposed, inexplicably chose to ignore the evidence produced by the player and his legal and medical team, which explained the presence of a prohibited substance in a sample collected from the player after the Heineken Cup in Toulouse.

“Not only did the Judicial Tribunal fail to take proper cognisance of the medical information offered by Frank Sheahan’s experts, but importantly and more damagingly, failed to acknowledge or take into account medical opinions given to it by their own experts,” the statement reads.

“The decision handed down is confusing, inconsistent and patently flawed. It has appalling consequences not only for Frankie Sheahan but for all asthmatics involved in rugby football and sport in general.

It is Frank Sheahan’s intention to do everything in his power to reclaim his good name and his right to earn a living. An appeal is being prepared,” the statement concludes.

Support from Sheahan has come from Munster Rugby, who also issued a statement over the weekend, in which the management and players give the hooker their “unqualified support” for his efforts to have the ban overturned.

“The Munster players and management are well aware that Frank Sheahan has been an asthmatic sufferer since 1977 and has used a Ventolin inhaler to enable him to play rugby.

“The Munster players and management would like to record their full and unqualified support of Frank Sheahan.

“They are very confident that he will be successful in his appeal. “Everybody looks forward to a speedy resumption of his career with Munster,” the Munster Rugby statement says.