The GAA need to step up and finally tackle doping
WHETHER the GAA are happy with Sport Ireland’s views on the Brendan O’Sullivan case does not matter.
There is another pressing anti-doping issue for the GAA to consider.
In these pages last month, Dr Una May, head of anti-doping at Sport Ireland, said she would be delighted if the GAA started paying for additional drug testing, beyond the ones carried out by Sport Ireland within its existing budgets, under a programme called User Pays.
Irish Rugby’s governing body, the IRFU already do so, and in the aftermath of the O’Sullivan saga, a number of intercounty players revealed they had gone through long careers without ever being tested.
There was no reaction from the GAA to May’s comments back then, and there is unlikely to be one after similar sentiments were expressed by John Treacy in recent days.
It was reasonable for Treacy, the Sport Ireland CEO, to raise concerns about the GAA prosecuting an anti-doping case while one of its units, the Kerry county board, assisted O’Sullivan with his defence.
It has apparently caused anger in Croke Park, but they should put aside their feelings and instead think seriously about how they should move on from this controversy.
No senior figure has stepped forward and spoken publicly on the matter yet, which is textraordinary.
Actions are louder than words, of course, and contributing to the cost of more extensive testing would be a powerful statement.