New GAA drug-testing procedures to take account of players’ amateur status

Hopefully nobody's going to get embarrassed at work.

The GAA today confirmed that their players will for the first time be included in Sport Ireland's anti-doping programme for next year, with both blood and urine testing to be introduced. However Ger Ryan of the Association's medical and scientific welfare committee said the new testing regime will take account of players' amateur status and the fact that the vast majority spend their time away from the field in either full-time employment or education. “The GAA has worked closely with Sport Ireland on this and the programme that will be rolled out - while meeting with Sport Ireland’s requirements in this regard - has been designed taking careful consideration of the unique circumstances of our amateur players, their support personnel and our team and training structures,” said Ryan. Performance enhancing drugs in the GAA made headlines earlier this year when Thomas Connolly, a player on the fringe of the Monaghan panel, tested positive for an anabolic steroid and received a two-year ban. However Ryan admits, with just 95 players tested in 2015, the GAA needs to take the issue of PEDs more seriously, particularly among senior intercounty players. He said: “The GAA had formulated a new four-year Anti-Doping Education Strategy for all levels of the Association to complement its existing initiatives, and that the main focus of this in 2016 would be on senior intercounty panels and support personnel.” Players with more queries about blood-testing can read the GAA's guidelines here.