Two-year ban shellshocks Munster

MUNSTER rugby was in a state of shock last night following Frankie Sheahan’s two-year suspension after being found guilty of a doping offence.

However, the decision by Sheahan and his legal team last night to appeal the ban means that the case is not over yet and it may be some time yet before it is finished one way or another.

The player was last night said to be "completely devastated" by the ERC's independent Judicial Tribunal decision and fellow Munster players and officials were "shellshocked" as they digested the news.

A spokesman for the Munster Branch said last night that as they were digesting the "horrendous" news the only thing they could focus on "was supporting Frankie Sheahan and his family" through what has been an appalling time for them.

Effectively, however, there is nothing the branch can do for Sheahan right now, as any ultimate decision on his contractual position will have to come from the IRFU. But, in a statement last night, the union said that as the matter was now going to be the subject of an appeal, it was effectively sub judice and they would have to wait until the appeal process was completed before addressing the matter.

The IRFU statement said: "The IRFU learned today of the decision by the independent Judicial Tribunal of the European Rugby Cup in the matter relating to Frank Sheahan.

"The union understands that the player is appealing the decision of the judicial tribunal in this matter and as such it would be inappropriate to comment on this specific case until the disciplinary process has been completed. The IRFU fully subscribes to the anti-doping programmes of the Irish Sports Council, the International Rugby Board and European Rugby Cup, and the union is seen to be pro-active in this regard with some 103 tests carried out in the past season, from club to international level, taking account of in and out of competition testing."

Quite what might happen then is in the realm of conjecture but, as one source said last night, this ban could, effectively end the career of the Irish international who will be 27 next month if the appeal is unsuccessful.

"This is a very human tragedy," the source said. "In effect it has nothing to do with rugby World Cups, or Heineken Cups or Celtic Leagues.

"It is all about the effect it may ultimately have on one man and his family and that is the tragic aspect of the whole thing.

"A lot of people are feeling particularly sorry for Frankie right now, because he has had a terrible week of it since his hearing on Monday, having to stew in it waiting for a decision.

"Everyone who knows Frankie is shellshocked right now.

"This is an appalling situation which nobody could have possibly envisaged."

One former senior international player, nevertheless, pointed out that if the player was found guilty of breaching the doping regulations, then a two-year ban was always the likely outcome. "This sort of offence carries a two-year ban, so if he was found guilty, then that was always going to be the censure. It was going to be two years or nothing.

"Having said that, though, it is a very shocking thing.

"The player has always protested his innocence, but it would appear that the levels don't lie and from what I've seen of the judgment, the tribunal have left nothing to chance.

"As yet we don't know what the outcome will be as there will be an appeal, but for supporters the fantastic news about Munster signing Christian Cullen just over a week ago will certainly be tempered by this decision."

Sheahan and his legal team now have to concentrate on the appeal hearing and they have 14 days to instigate the appeal proceedings.

Quite when an appeal hearing might be held is as yet unknown, but undoubtedly it would be in the best interests of all concerned if it was sooner rather than later.