Frankie Sheahan 'in the clear'

Munster and Ireland rugby hooker Frankie Sheahan was today cleared of drug taking charges and had his two-year ban from world rugby lifted.

Sheahan, who has asthma, was suspended in July after testing positive for the banned substance salbutamol, which he uses as part of his medication. He immediately lodged an appeal to clear his name.

His appeal was heard in Dublin yesterday by a three-man committee and while their verdict was to be announced this afternoon, the ban will be lifted, according to the Evening Echo.

Sources close to the Sheahan camp were in cautious celebratory mood this morning ahead of the expected announcement, which will bring an end to three months of misery for Sheahan.

“It is looking good, the announcement will be made this afternoon and Frankie will be exonerated,” said a source close to Sheahan.

Sheahan’s ban was handed down after recording a 1,650ng/ml level of salbutamol. International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) regulations are 1,000ng/ml, which goes for all sports.

Sheahan’s levels were above that, something his legal and medical teams put down to the severe dehydration he was suffering after the game.

An IOC accredited laboratory in Barcelona confirmed that in Frankie’s case the Salbutamol in the urine had been inhaled.

Sheahan’s team also argued that when Frankie was drug tested in Toulouse, he had had eight puffs of Ventolin inhaler, and his Salbutamol level was 1,650 ng/ml.

Frankie was drug tested two weeks previously in Leicester, England, and his Salbutamol level was only 80 ng/ml.

Sheahan immediately lodged an appeal to the ban, which was heard yesterday and the announcement clearing him was welcomed today.

Sheahan will now launch a late bid for inclusion in Ireland’s World Cup squad, which will be announced in Dublin on Sunday.