GAA still just short of ISC's drug code

Drug-testing issue: The GAA and the Irish Sports Council have yet to agree full implementation of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) code on drug abuse in sport. Procedures have been updated in line with the Wada standards, as operated in this country by the ISC, but a couple of critical areas remain for resolution.

"Testing has started out of competition as well as in competition," said ISC chief executive John Treacy. "There's a bit more work to do but we're satisfied with procedures. A couple of issues in relation to the code remain to be sorted out but we don't see them as being problematic."

These matters include the inclusion of what can be termed recreational drugs, which have no performance-enhancing value, in the Wada schedule and the mandatory suspensions required by the international body.

Whereas the GAA are anxious not to appear to be condoning the use of narcotics such as cocaine, there is an acknowledgement that members who use these substances do not do so to gain an unfair advantage and that such consumption is more a matter for the individual and the criminal law than for suspension from a sports body.

There was unease at the recent case of a rugby player with Thomond who received the standard Wada two-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine that had been taken 15 hours before the test. Within the GAA there is a strong concern that mandatory suspensions are too arbitrary and that a measure of discretion should be allowed when cases are considered.

The current situation is complicated by the fact that nearly four years into mandatory testing, no Gaelic games player has yet tested positive. All senior intercounty players are liable for testing, which can take place in competition after matches or out of competition at training. There is no testing at home or in the workplace.

The areas of difference between the GAA and the ISC largely concern procedures if and when a hurler or footballer fails a test.

The numbers of players being tested has remained constant at 44 over the past two years with the preponderance of the tests taking place during the summer championship season.

There is agreement on the urgency of reaching a final settlement on the matter. The current round of Government grants is conditional "on the GAA complying in full with the Government's anti-doping in sport programme".

Michael Donlan has been the GAA's Anti-Doping Officer since May when he took over as manager of Croke Park's Insurance and Risk section in succession to the late Ciarán O'Neill.

"Our rulebook incorporates the approved procedures and we have satisfied the Irish Sports Council that we have bought into the code. We're not 100 per cent there yet but I'd say we're 95 per cent on the same page as the ISC.

"There is a case for looking at the situation of amateur players, who are being tested either late at night at training or potentially after a match that could be at the other end of the country and asking should they be dealt with on the Wada scale of unilateral standards across all disciplines. Or should there be a discretionary power that stops short of full Wada sanctions?

"Another huge point is that our players have no international involvement. Most of the other sports signed up to Wada are reflecting international practice but apart from International Rules, which covers a tiny number of our membership, the GAA doesn't have that exposure."

At present doping offences are dealt with by an independent body, established by the ISC. The GAA has provision in its rules for the setting-up of its own independent body and appeals process to sit in judgment of any failed tests. Whether the association decides to persevere with its own disciplinary committees or row in with the existing body hasn't yet been tested in the absence of any urgent need to consider the matter.

"I think the desire for a discretionary remit is very understandable," according to Treacy, "but no sports body has so far decided to go it alone in dealing with this issue."

Both sides hope to have thrashed out the five per cent in time for next year's Congress to enact any rule changes that might be necessary.