GAA players can only be tested within very restricted times and locations, unlike cyclists who can get the knock on the door at any time. Why is this?
By Paddy Doran
PeakEnduranceCoaching.ie
Do you know that there’s an agreement that anti-doping inspectors do not and cannot call to a GAA players house to do an anti doping test?
This is in contrast to cyclists, runners, triathletes and other Irish sports people.
All of these other athletes’ national governing bodies have signed up to an agreement with Irish Sports Council which allows the inspectors to call to the athlete’s home.
But it seems the GAA was powerful enough to negotiate a deal under which their players would not be tested at home.
Here's a section from a piece by sports journalist Ian O Riordan in today’s Irish Times:
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“Since January 1st the GAA has been brought further in line with the Wada code by introducing blood as well as urine tests as part of their anti-doping programme, although they still benefit from one variation, as agreed with Sport Ireland, in that intercounty players aren’t tested at home, with all out-of-competition testing taking place at training grounds. Testing of GAA players can only occur at training or games.”
So there is no danger of a GAA player getting the knock on his door at home from an anti doping inspector.
Tested night before exams
I once coached an athlete from another sport who had an anti doping inspector call to his house the night before his final exams.
Luckily he was a calm individual who just continued with his studies until he felt like filling the bottle.
At any time an Irish cyclist can receive the knock on the door from an anti doping inspector. This is most likely to happen with a rider who is part of the high performance setup.
An athlete’s experience
This morning I asked an athlete I know if they ever get tested at home and to outline their experience of those visit.
“ I did, I got numerous calls,” the athlete said, confirming the knock on the front door from the testers.
“I always found them very polite. In fact, they called so regularly to me that I became almost friendly with them.
“It didn’t bother me at all that they called to my home – in fact I saw it as a good thing. I didn’t find it intrusive; it’s part and parcel of getting a sports grant.”
So the experience doesn’t seem to be a difficult one.
And while GAA players do not get sports grants, intercounty players are paid expenses.
And those in receipt of those payments have been told - like other athletes who receive grants - that because they are in that group at the top of their sport receiving financial support they are more likely than others in the sport to be tested.
Yet the GAA players have been granted special conditions around when they can be tested.
Any many athletes from other sports who do not get grants and who are amateurs can get the knock on the door, unlike those playing Gaelic games.
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Irish Sports Council's expertise
Why should GAA players be treated any differently? If people are committed to doping there is plenty of time to organise and cover up evidence of some forms of doping between training sessions.
And there is no doubt that with the expertise available to the sports council they are surely aware of this. So why did they agree to it?
Governing bodies need to speak up
National governing bodies need to stand up for their athletes regardless of financial concerns. By remaining silent, the smaller governing bodies are effectively allowing their athletes to be discriminated against.
The Irish Sports Council surely needs to consider the implications if some athlete takes a discrimination case against the anti-doping rules or refuse to be tested at home on grounds of inequality or discrimination.
If I was an athlete I would not be happy to have an inspector call to my house to test me when there is another group of athletes who do not have to submit to this rule.
Outline of Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme
The Irish Sports Council was established under the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999 to perform the functions conferred on it by or under that Act. Its functions include:
(i) encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and the achievement of
excellence in competitive sport;
(ii) facilitating, through the promulgation of guidelines and codes of practice, standards of good conduct and fair
play in either or both competitive sport and recreational sport; and
(iii) taking such action as it considers appropriate, including testing, to combat doping in sport.
In performance of these functions, the Irish Sports Council established and implemented the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme.
Article 1: Application of Rules
1.1 Application to National Governing Bodies
1.1.1 As a condition of receiving financial and/or other assistance from the Government of Ireland and/or the
Irish Sports Council, National Governing Bodies shall abide by the spirit and terms of the Irish Sport Anti-
Doping Programme and these Rules, including application of sanctions to Athletes or other Persons, and
shall respect the authority of, and co-operate with, the Irish Sports Council, the Irish Sport Anti-Doping
Disciplinary Panel and CAS on all matters to which these Rules relate.
1.1.2 Each National Governing Body shall therefore adopt these Rules and incorporate
1.4 Roles and Responsibilities of Athletes
1.4.5 To take full responsibility for what they ingest and Use.
1.4.8 To make himself or herself available for Sample collection at all times.
5.4 Testing Jurisdiction
5.4.1 Subject to the jurisdictional limitations for Event Testing set out in Article 5.3 of the Code, the Irish Sports Council shall have In-Competition and Out-of-Competition Testing jurisdiction over all Athletes to whom
these Rules apply and such Athletes must make themselves available for, and must submit to, Testing
pursuant to these Rules by the Irish Sports Council or by any Anti-Doping Organisation with Testing
jurisdiction at any time and any place. WADA shall have In-Competition and Out-of-Competition Testing
authority as set out in Article 20.7.8 of the Code.
5.4.2 If an International Federation or Major Event Organisation
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