The Head of the World Anti Doping Agency, David Howman, was in Dublin yesterday and raised concerns about the fear of doping becoming more widespread among amateur and youth levels of sport.
He was in town to help launch the Sport Ireland Anti Doping Programme report for 2015 which showed an increase in blood testing of five per cent and three positive tests from a total of 1028 carried out across 27 different sports.
These ranged from a high of 206 in Athletics through 200 in cycling, 114 in rugby, 95 in GAA, 59 in boxing, 49 in soccer, 39 in canoeing, 37 in triathlon all the way through to three in tennis and two each in squash and angling.
“Sport Ireland will continue to contribute to the field of Anti -Doping at an international level,” said Caroline Murphy, incoming Chairperson of the Sport Ireland Anti Doping Committee.
“We will actively contribute to the global anti-doping fight through membership of iNADO. Sport Ireland was granted its quality recognition for sample collection and is the first National Anti-Doping Organisation to receive this recognition”
“Sport Ireland has been entrusted by my Department to combat doping in Ireland and we are resolute that our fight against doping is constant, determined and ultimately successful,” added the still in position Minister of State for Sport Michael Ring.
“We in Ireland are committed to inspiring fair play in sport and protecting the rights of clean athletes and I want to send a clear message out today that doping should not be tolerated at any level”.
That reference to any level was picked up on by Howman who highlighted that the pressures on young people and amateurs to break through to higher levels was causing equal concern to keeping sport as honest as possible at the highest levels.
“Our main concern is making sure that doping is combatted at the highest levels of sport but I have a real concern over high school kids coming out and looking to break into academies and get on the first steps of a pro career.”
“Testing at that level is more challenging than at the relatively rarefied level of elite sport and yet it is a space where the enticement to cheat is as strong and where agents can see big money on the line.”
The battle to stay close to the dopers, given that it is almost impossible to be ahead of them, must be a high priority of all sports.
Part of the continued relative success of the Irish programme is down to an enhanced approach to intelligence with resources given to collecting any and all information that will assist in the detection, deterrence, enforcement or prevention of an Anti Doping Rule Violation.
A Report Doping online submission form is available through Sport Ireland website which provides a safe and secure way for members of the public to report matters relating to drugs in sport.
The Irish Anti-Doping Programme also continues to make substantial progress in the areas of testing, education and research. Over 1,200 athletes attended workshops and seminars on doping last year so that they can be educated about the requirements of staying clean.
