An Irish club rugby player found guilty of taking a prohibited substance last season has escaped a playing ban after an IRFY hearing.
Stephen Smyth, of AIB All-Ireland League division two side City of Derry, tested positive for pseudoephedrine following a match in Belfast against Malone on March 16th of this year.
The IRFU’s Drugs Tribunal accepted Smyth's plea that the prohibited substance had been consumed inadvertently after he had purchased, without prescription, the drug Galpseud, because he was feeling unwell on the morning of the match.
Because of the what it called "the candour of Mr Smyth's account of events", the tribunal decided not to impose any suspension on the City of Derry man but admonished him for the offence and warned him in regard to his future conduct.