Process is 'unfair', says Buggy

Drug-testing: Drug testing of GAA players is "unfair, embarrassing and demeaning" a former president of the association has said. Paddy Buggy, who was president from 1982-1985, has called on the GAA to "take another look" at their policy.

Speaking from his home in Ferrybank, Waterford, he said that while he doesn't often comment publicly about controversial issues "having had my day in the sun", he felt he "had to speak out" after events in Thurles last Sunday after the National Hurling League final. He described how hurlers from each of the Waterford and Kilkenny teams had been randomly selected, and said the test was "unfair and demeaning to young men".

He described the players as "the best of young Irish manhood" and said "it's most unlikely that they would be involved in drug-taking of any kind".

He said the situation is different for professionals because "where large money is involved" he could "understand the temptation". He said drug testing might be acceptable "for professionals", but told The Irish Times: "Our people are amateurs and I don't think there should be any testing".

Buggy, who was in the Kilkenny dressingroom in Thurles, said: "I really felt for the players . . . had never realised how embarrassing it is" for them. Speaking as a former player (who won an All-Ireland medal with Kilkenny in 1957), he said: "If I was a player, I wouldn't like it".

Buggy believes that there are "some young men who'd be embarrassed to pass water under supervision".

He also noted that players can be dehydrated and simply cannot produce a urine sample "which means they can be deemed guilty".

He was also critical of the "form-filling" involved for the players and claimed that the whole operation can take up to two hours.

Speaking earlier on KCLR radio in Kilkenny, Buggy also claimed that the Kilkenny team doctor had been "very annoyed" at the process in Thurles.

Contacted yesterday, Dr Tadgh Crowley, the Kilkenny team doctor, said: "I don't believe GAA players are taking drugs or performance-enhancing substances". He said that "if any of the players test positive it would be because they had taken an over-the-counter medicine".

He added that the Irish Sports Council (ISC) had taken over drug-testing of GAA players from a private company and that he had "some concerns about the way (the testing) was conducted" last Sunday.

Dr Crowley immediately wrote to the ISC and GAA headquarters to express those concerns and has already received a reply from the GAA which is "taking it very seriously" and "will look into" the matter. He said whether drug-testing should be carried out is a "political decision".

He agreed with Buggy that "some people find it difficult to pass water under supervision".