Sheehan’s fight for justice could cost €100,000

FRANKIE SHEAHAN yesterday estimated that the legal costs of his successful appeal against a two year ban for doping could rise above €100,000.

Asthma sufferer Sheahan, a guest on the Marian Finucane Show on RTÉ Radio One, spoke of the horrors he had to endure in the last three months as he battled to clear his name.

Sheahan is bracing himself for a huge bill, even though a number of experts who helped him through the ordeal have promised their services for free.

Sheahan spoke of the anticipation he felt when called into a meeting room by Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan and team manager Brian O’Brien on Ireland’s tour to Australia last June.

“I was quietly hoping that they might tell me I was getting a place in the team to meet Australia but they told me instead that I had forgotten to declare my use of Ventolin in a form for the European Cup competition.

“They broke the news of the charge against me very gently. They were very good about it but obviously I was devastated.”

The Munster and Irish hooker recalled how, after the European Cup semi-final against Toulouse, he spent almost two hours drinking water in a bid to provide an urine sample for a mandatory drug test.

“I drank litre after litre but I still wasn’t able to go. I tried turning on taps and the showers, the little tricks that people use to make them go, but it still took an age for me to be able to provide a specimen.

“In the meantime I suffered cramps in my stomach, arms and legs and the medical people were worried about my condition, which apparently came about from consuming too much water and not having enough intake of sodium and salt.”

Having had to return from Australia to face charges by ERC, Sheahan was convinced that the matter would be sorted out and was shocked to find himself banned for two years.

“A two year ban would have meant my rugby career was all over. There would have been no way back.

“For three days after the verdict all I felt was like curling up in a ball and forgetting about everything.”

But, he admitted, the support of his friends and particularly his family provided the turning point.

“My family were fantastic. My parents, three brothers and sisters decided to hold a meeting and fight the decision. They helped me pull my way through the most difficult of times.”

Now that his ordeal is over, Sheahan is looking forward to getting back on the pitch and will do so this evening in Dublin when he lines out for Munster against Leinster in the Celtic League.

“After all the frustration, all the worry, I’m really looking forward to putting that part of my life behind me and getting on with my rugby.

“I’ll have to take it one step at a time but I can just hope that it’s not too late to push for a place in Ireland’s World Cup squad.

“I suppose it will be up to me to prove that I haven’t lost much by the long absence.”