GAA player test positive in drugs test.

[rosnarun]

If all is as it seems and the player had notified people he was on the inhaler then this whole episide is a disgrace. I have no time for drug takers anfd if he is telling the Truth this is not a drug case and heads must roll as the mans name has been Libels for all time as we all know ' there no smoke without fire '. this is nothing like the muster Rugby case as Sheehan Cheated and remembered he was an asmatic after he got the ban . and got his ban reduced with a good lawyer.
Whoi ever leaked this to the Press should be taken out and shot

[stephenite]

Is there no one out there that can see that O'Mahoney went to the media and gave permission for them to name him. All this talk about media being a disgrace and should be shot is crazy. It makes far more sense that as he is innocent he'd get his name out there as quickly as possible as opposed to trying to cover it up - that just creates more suspicion

[stephenite]

Tell me about it!!

I said the same thing in response to Seanie yesterday evening myself - but people are still coming calling the media a disgrace, so just re-iterating 

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Fair point stephenite (et al.), neither O'Mahony nor his solicitor (who were both interviewed today) made any mention of the fact that his identity is now known, much less being critical of it.

Looks like he'll be OK, as should be the case.

[rosnarun]

Fair point stephenite (et al.), neither O'Mahony nor his solicitor (who were both interviewed today) made any mention of the fact that his identity is now known, much less being critical of it.

Looks like he'll be OK, as should be the case.

he didn't have a lot of choice the dogs on the board we barking his and many other names before he came out yesterday.
Wasnt he better to go to a sympathethic Irish Times than have one of the english rags expose him in the morning .
  but a supposed negative test which had clearance should never have been reported in the 1st place. Im not blaming the media but Whoever announced the test in the first place.

[blanketattack]

The biggest obstacle facing O'Mahony won't be that his level of salbutamol was over 1000 but how it was so far over 1000. It was a very high figure even when you add in flu, dehydration, stress and other factors.

[RMDrive]

If all is as it seems and the player had notified people he was on the inhaler then this whole episide is a disgrace. I have no time for drug takers anfd if he is telling the Truth this is not a drug case and heads must roll as the mans name has been Libels for all time as we all know ' there no smoke without fire '. this is nothing like the muster Rugby case as Sheehan Cheated and remembered he was an asmatic after he got the ban . and got his ban reduced with a good lawyer.
Whoi ever leaked this to the Press should be taken out and shot

I belive O'Mahoney has engaged the services of that same good lawyer.

[RMDrive]

The biggest obstacle facing O'Mahony won't be that his level of salbutamol was over 1000 but how it was so far over 1000. It was a very high figure even when you add in flu, dehydration, stress and other factors.

I heard yesterday that his level was very low (RTE radio 1 yesterday evening) and got the impression that it was within "inhale-able" levels. I took it that this meant there was a question over his authorisation to use it??? Confused!

[Reillers]

SHAMEFUL

on 19/11/2008 08:21:14

WARNING to asthmatics: don't try to seek relief; it could land you with a minimum ban of two years from the sport of your choice.

Warning to GAA players: don't think that because you're part of a local sport played for free in your spare time, you won't be treated like highly paid professionals in several areas of your life.

Warning to the rest of us: reclaim the sporting world before it's taken over by bureaucratic terrorists.

Kerry's Aidan O'Mahony stands suspended at present, faced with the prospect of proving his innocence for taking a substance designed to ease an asthma condition from which he has suffered for years.

It's his right as an individual to do so, yet he is been treated like a drug cheat by a shameful system.

The carefully crafted words describing the situation in which he finds himself for inhaling Salbutamol around All-Ireland final time read like something from an old-style Soviet manual.

"Adverse findings" indeed. What's definitely found to be adverse here is that a person can be treated so appallingly badly. In most criminal investigations, there's a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but in the case of an amateur footballer -- giving freely of his own time -- it's the other way around. How bizarre and unfair is that?

Does anybody seriously believe that O'Mahony took the asthma remedy for anything other than relief? Many top medics insist that, irrespective of how much Salbutamol was administered, it wouldn't enhance performance in any way, but the World Anti-Doping Agency disagrees -- hence it's inclusion on the 'dodgy' list.

It's not actually banned and can be taken perfectly legally under the Therapeutic Use Exemption, which allows a certain amount to be inhaled. Problems arise when those limits are exceeded.

Whether that's the basis of the case against O'Mahony remains to be seen, but meanwhile he has been identified as the first GAA person to fail a dope test.

The GAA would never admit it but they were effectively bullied into signing up to the anti-doping regulations in 2001. Basically, they were told that if they declined, they would lose government funding.

They were also conscious of the need to be seen to operate a policy of full co-operation with anti-doping agencies, lest they be accused of creating a safe haven for cheats. So they signed up, and while they got some minor concessions in terms of how the regulations applied it wasn't anywhere near enough to balance the books between what should be expected of amateurs, who have a life outside sport, and full-timers.

In an ideal world GAA players would be aware of every detail of the regulations but, unlike their professional colleagues in other sports, they work (or study) for most of the week. Of course team doctors advise them to be careful, but inevitably mistakes will be made amid the hectic lifestyle players lead, especially in the playing season.

When that happens, they are entitled to be regarded as innocent until proven guilty, which is not the situation at present. That's why, when the O'Mahony case runs its course, the GAA must do a new deal on drug-testing and, equally importantly, on what happens afterwards.

As Dr Pat Duggan pointed out in this paper yesterday, a sympathetic approach should be taken when dealing with individuals whose lives don't revolve around training and sport on a full-time basis.

Given how stringent the anti-doping regulations are, only a complete fool would attempt to beat them while operating as a part-time sportsperson.

As for the notion that a player might use an asthma remedy in an attempt to boost performance, it's too daft to even contemplate. Still, it hasn't stopped O'Mahony being suspended and facing a hearing.

One of the bizarre ironies of the situation is that the dope tester who took the sample, the couriers who carried it, the laboratory experts who processed it, and virtually everybody else involved are all professionals.

Isn't it great to see one amateur sportsman providing so much gainful employment? As for his good name, well let him and his advisers fight for it. After all, the system, however flawed, has to be upheld.

No, it bloody doesn't. Which is why after this case is over, the GAA must seek a whole range of derogations from over-strict regulations when it shows that all O'Mahony did was seek relief from asthma.

However mad the world has become, that can never be an offence.

[pintsofguinness]

Where did that come from Reillers?


I never heard a word of complaint about these drug regulations before and now when someone fails a test there's an awful amount of crying about amateur players and Jesus H Christ there's people who don't care if there are drug cheats.
Bogball if a county started to win all around them and it became very apparent it wasn't down to just hard work would you have the same point of view?

I'm actually embarrassed by the crying and whinging on this thread and it would appear that a lot of you would be perfectly willing to turn a blind eye to drug cheats. 

[Diet Coke]

Keep taking the tablets

[boojangles]

Where did that come from Reillers?


I never heard a word of complaint about these drug regulations before and now when someone fails a test there's an awful amount of crying about amateur players and Jesus H Christ there's people who don't care if there are drug cheats.
Bogball if a county started to win all around them and it became very apparent it wasn't down to just hard work would you have the same point of view?

I'm actually embarrassed by the crying and whinging on this thread and it would appear that a lot of you would be perfectly willing to turn a blind eye to drug cheats. 

Great Article Reillers,
Jesus your easily embarassed Pints.Nobody is turning a blind eye to what happened.O Mahoney is Innocent until proven guilty,so he is not a Drug Cheat.Drug testing was forced upon the GAA.There has never been a drug problem in the GAA,Who the f**k ever heard of this Salbutamol before,now all of a sudden anybody who takes it is a Drug cheat.Inter-County players are not paid to check every f**king ingredient that passes through their system.They have enough on their plate with their Full-Time jobs earning a weeks pay. Hopefully after this fiasco, common sense will prevail and there will be seperate guidelines and rules drawn up for the GAA,An amateur association.

[Reillers]

Where did that come from Reillers?


I never heard a word of complaint about these drug regulations before and now when someone fails a test there's an awful amount of crying about amateur players and Jesus H Christ there's people who don't care if there are drug cheats.
Bogball if a county started to win all around them and it became very apparent it wasn't down to just hard work would you have the same point of view?

I'm actually embarrassed by the crying and whinging on this thread and it would appear that a lot of you would be perfectly willing to turn a blind eye to drug cheats. 

Cheating? Are ya taking the piss??
Wanting to BREATH is cheating?? Salbutamol is a drug in enhalers. It has little if no effect and usually the affect is a bad one. Dizzyness, tiring, jumpy sometimes. It affect is no more then water. You can't say, no one can say that he took the drug for anything other then wanting relief from asthma, so he could breath and we're punishing him for that. You think that's right??
So now, we're putting up a barrier between players and atshma sufferers.

It's one thing with pros, who have things clearly put for them. But these are amatuers with hectics lives, mistakes happen.

I remember the Cork Waterford game last season or the one before that, but Brian Murphy had been sick, bed bound for a week and he played the match, the physio had to come out with his inhaller about 3 times before he was taken off.

So what about lads with Salbutamol in their inhalers. Sorry lads I know ya want to be able to breath BUT..

It's a joke.

[pintsofguinness]

Jesus your easily embarassed Pints.Nobody is turning a blind eye to what happened.

Have you read the thread? There's a number of people who don't want it mentioned.

.Drug testing was forced upon the GAA.

Where's your evidence for this? 7 years ago it came in? I haven't heard a complaint about it until now, why?

Who the f**k ever heard of this Salbutamol before,now all of a sudden anybody who takes it is a Drug cheat.

Yes, anyone who uses salbutamol - quite a large proportion of the population I imagine - is a drug cheat     
Don't be such a drama queen.

Same to you Reillers, you can argue your case without a hysterical response filled with nonsense and trying to misrepresent what people are saying.

[Reillers]

Jesus your easily embarassed Pints.Nobody is turning a blind eye to what happened.

Have you read the thread? There's a number of people who don't want it mentioned.

.Drug testing was forced upon the GAA.

Where's your evidence for this? 7 years ago it came in? I haven't heard a complaint about it until now, why?

Who the f**k ever heard of this Salbutamol before,now all of a sudden anybody who takes it is a Drug cheat.

Yes, anyone who uses salbutamol - quite a large proportion of the population I imagine - is a drug cheat     
Don't be such a drama queen.

Same to you Reillers, you can argue your case without a hysterical response filled with nonsense and trying to misrepresent what people are saying.

The GAA was forced to bring it by the govt. back in 2001, if they didn't they'd loose funding.
Till now nothings come up.

And Never heard of salbutamol, Frankie Sheahan was banned for 2 months becuase of the same reason, he first got a 2 year ban but it was brought down. The amount of media attention it got, it, the ban, pissed off a lot of people. They've a right to breath.
Now answer me how is taking a salbutamol cheating when it doesn't do anything.
He took it for relief and relief only, it's ridiculous to suggest otherwise.