SPORT IRELAND HAVE announced that Kerry footballer Brendan O’Sullivan tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine and served a suspension of seven months.
O’Sullivan committed the anti-doping violation for a drug that is commonly found in pre-workout drinks. He was tested the same day he appeared as a substitute against Dublin in the Division 1 league final on 24 April 2016.
Sport Ireland “accepted that it was a contaminated product case, that Mr. O’Sullivan bore no significant fault or negligence.”
The midfielder’s suspension was split in two. He was provisionally suspended for 11 weeks from 13 May to 28th July 2016, before his suspension was lifted by the chair of the disciplinary panel as the “violation was likely to have involved a contaminated product.”
The GAA Anti-Doping Committee imposed a seven month suspension (reduced from the standard four years) but it was declined by O’Sullivan on 5 January.
After an appeal, a six month suspension was handed out by the committee on 13 February. The player appealed again on 16 March to the Irish Sport anti-doping disciplinary panel, who reduced the suspension to 21 weeks.
The panel decided that the remaining 10 weeks of O’Sullivan’s suspension commenced on 26 February.
Methylhexanamine is the same drug that cost Usain Bolt his Olympic gold medal from 2008 after re-analysis of Nesta Carter’s sample last January.
Inter-county players are required to make themselves available for drug tests after games and training sessions as part of the GAA’s government funding.
The42 revealed on 21 May that five inter-county teams missed mandatory drug tests in the last two years.
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Great news, neither could care less
@Stanley: Any word of a call up for Greg Cunningham? Decent left back and back playing again now after an injury. Can’t be worse than anything else we’ve tried.
Any wonder we struggle at this level when you see all those players and the clubs they’re at. We no longer have players at top clubs, even our premier league players are of championship standard except for Coleman and maybe another 1 or 2. Until we get a goalscorer who we can be confident of at least a goal every 2 games, then we have to accept performances like Saturday night. The manager is not the issue, the squad just isnt good enough.
@Declan Snow: no offense to the lad but when your number 9 is a 34 year who plays for Luton that says it all really, shocking lack of quality these days.
@Jack Torrance: he’s 30
@Jack Torrance: he’s 30 but yeah he can barely even get a game for Luton
Our passing accuracy should improve now. Give Lee O’Connor another run at it
Tbf Matt Doherty has been a huge disappointment. Don’t know what is going on with him, but he’s gone backwards. Enda Stevens is half decent and always seems to have a go. Wouldn’t knock him
@Cathal Keeshan: Both were have really good seasons last year compared to this season
@Cathal Keeshan: I saw a couple of interviews where he criticized the Irish set up while at Wolves. Seemed to have a very high opinion of himself.
@Michéal Ó Tuama: Well if that’s the case it’s a pity. The playing career is a short one.
@Cathal Keeshan: the fella was in prem team of the season, went to spurs, got Jose d, and is a shadow of his former self. Needs gametime
@ConPhoto: Trent Alexander Arnold was right back on team of the year for last two seasons.
Wouldn’t have had either of them starting. Back to a flat 4. Give Ryan manning a chance
@Declan O’Leary: hasn’t kicked on this season and has been mainly a sub
Lucky them
A few new run outs to be expected . This panel of players are what Steven has to work with , managers make decisions and calls , players have to give it their all. He has to get the best from these players and he needs time , he also needs as more so the players need , the backing of supporters and media to try and achieve this .