STAYING UP TO THE TEST

Ryan knows location is everything for athletes

SHANE Ryan knows from personal experience how important it is to stay on top of drug testing.

Now 28, the Irish-American swimmer is aiming for Paris 2024 and his third Olympics, after his Tokyo adventure was limited to a relay event due to a shoulder injury.

Having rehabbed from a subsequent shoulder operation in time to compete in the European Championships in August, Ryan is putting together the foundation blocks for his Paris 2024 bid.

An integral part of that is making sure he is in the right place when the drug testers come calling.

“Sport Ireland is very clear on their rules,”said Ryan.“I get tested all the time and they need to know where we are at all times.

“If you miss a test on whereabouts you will get a strike and they WILL ban you.

Friend

“I have an Italian friend and he’s banned for a year (because of a whereabouts error) and may not make the Olympics, and he’s one of the best backstrokers in Italy.

“The Irish are very good (at testing) but it needs to be active.

“The likes of China and Russia, it’s hard to tell but I think (doping) is in every sport — it’s only 0.05 per cent of people but that’s what sours a sport.

“That’s sport, there’s always some negative but also so many great things. I think you’re having cleaner athletes now.”

Ryan is also clear on his future beyond competing in the pool — he wants to guide the next generation as a coach and he insists he has so much to offer.

“I’d love to stay in Ireland and coach because I don’t think there is anyone except for Andrew Bree in Northern Ireland,” the former All-American swimmer said.

“There really isn’t any high-level coaching for people who have gone to Olympics, gone through all that competition, come back with medals and let the younger kids know how that process is.

“So when they do go to Europeans, Juniors etc, that they have that little bit of knowledge. ‘Oh, remember when Shane said this’.

“And they can go in, be better prepared and come home with more medals.”

Ryan was speaking at the K Club ahead of the Olympic Federation

of Ireland’s inaugural Make A Difference Athletes’ Fund Golf Tournament.

He recalls that when he moved to Ireland seven years ago funding was always an issue for both athletes and coaches.

Chicken

“I had like €50 to my name, I didn’t have anything,” he said.

“I remember really budgeting, I had my €10 to go to Tesco to get chicken breasts, some pasta, cereal and milk for my meals.

“Having a little bit more money and having that fund for the athletes is superb because if you’re putting more money into it, you’re starting to see the results.

“It’s been an ongoing thing, year-in, year-out, in athletics, swimming, every single sport.

“You’re starting to see Irish names a lot more and coming back with a lot more medals, which is amazing, but it also gives us athletes more of a reassurance that they are supporting us, giving us what we need and listening to us.”