Irish cyclist hit with four-year suspension for anti-doping violation

THE IRISH SPORT anti-doping disciplinary panel have confirmed that rider Ciaran Kelly has committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The news has been announced by Cycling Ireland and the Irish Sports Council, with Kelly being handed a four-year ban — commencing today, 27 July, 2015.

Kelly — a 27-year-old amateur from Leixlip who tested positive for the prohibited substance clenbuterol on 20 April, 2014 — has 21 days to lodge an appeal.

The standard sanction is two years but — in a joint statement issued Cycling Ireland and the Irish Sports Council — it was explained that the ban was doubled after Kelly ‘failed to respect the provisional suspension imposed by Cycling Ireland’.

The statement reads: “Aggravating circumstances are present in this case which justify the imposition of a period of ineligibility greater than the standard sanction of two years, and that the period of ineligibility otherwise applicable should be increased up to the maximum period of 4 years.

“Mr Kelly failed to respect the provisional suspension imposed by Cycling Ireland, and have decided that he should not receive any credit for the period of provisional suspension against the four-year period of ineligibility which is now imposed.”

According to the report, which is available to read on the Irish Sports Council’s website, Kelly claimed that he unknowingly ingested the substance via contaminated meat.

Quiz: How well were you following the 2015 Tour de France?

What’s the big fuss about the Galway Races? Here’s everything you need to know