DRUGS IN SPORT: A significant decline in the number of Irish athletes testing positive for banned substances was the key issue in yesterday's Annual Doping Report of the Irish Sports Council (ISC).
From 600 tests conducted in 2000, 12 athletes tested positive, compared to just four last year from 693 tests. Of those four, two swimmers had medical notification for terbutaline and salbutamol, while a triathlete tested positive for ephedrine and a motorcyclist for a cannabinoid.
The ISC interpret last year's drop to a greater awareness among athletes to innocent transgressions and the fear factor, particularly in the elite range, in knowing that the likelihood of them being tested is now very high. Still, the figures may also be read as athletes becoming more sophisticated in their taking of banned substances and therefore not as easy to catch.
This explanation was rejected by both ISC chief executive John Treacy and chairperson of the Anti Doping Committee, Dr Conor P O'Brien.
"When you introduce a new programme, figures will spike," said O'Brien. "It is just below a one per cent pick-up rate which is similar to results from Germany and Australia."
The ISC also said that they would be targeting inter-county players in GAA this year. Croke Park officials along with the Football Association of Ireland signed letters of authorisation in 2001 to allow testing of their members.
