Pubdate: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 Source: Examiner, The (Ireland) Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 1999 Contact: http://www.examiner.ie/ THERE CAN BE NO PLACE FOR DRUGS IN IRISH SPORT IN a nation literally obsessed with sport, and after a weekend in which Irish teams competed on the international stage in soccer, rugby and golf, it is disturbing to note an alarmingly high proportion of this country’s athletes are turning to performance enhancing drugs. >From Ben Johnson to Michelle De Bruin, it is painfully clear athletes are slow to learn the harsh lessons of doping. The public will find it incredible that as many as one in ten of the country’s athletes now resort to doping to improve his or her performance. The temptations to take drugs are enormous. Those who successfully evade detection can go on to fame and financial fortunes. But, invariably, those who are caught will suffer ignominy and disgrace. Astonishingly, according to statistics revealed at a weekend conference in Dingle, 10% of our athletes engage in substance abuse. To the vast majority of people, who believe in the merits of fair play and a level pitch, this deception is utterly unacceptable. They will welcome the establishment of a national anti doping committee which meets for the first time this week to plan a testing programme for the country’s 600 athletes, starting next month. It is essential to get across the message that drugs are both harmful to the health of athletes themselves, and also damaging to the ethos of sport. As demonstrated in the scandal surrounding triple Olympic gold medal winner Michelle De Bruin, fans and even casual admirers also suffer when their trust is betrayed by an athlete of her standing. It leaves a sour taste in the public mind. In addition to policing athletes, the move by Sports Minister Jim McDaid to legislate against the importation of growth promoters, is another important element in the fight against doping. As things stand, the authorities would be powerless to prevent an athlete bringing suitcases full of banned substances into the country. Those athletes who intend embarking on the slippery slope of drug abuse would do well to heed the warning of Dr Conor O’Brien, head of the Irish Sports Council Anti Doping Committee, who has outlined their horrific and often fatal side effects. His graphic description should be enough to deter even the most hardened abuser and bring home the fact that drugs in sport is a public health issue. Given the damaging publicity which can surround suspected cases, it is essential that testing be carried out in an atmosphere of total confidentiality so that athletes can rely on the expertise and fairness of the system. It is vital to convince athletes to clean up their act and get rid of drugs. There can be no place for doping in Irish sport. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea