The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr. Jim Mc Daid, has launched the new National Anti-Doping Programme, aimed at tackling drug cheats in sport. Ireland is now among 30 nations that can boast a national programme for doping control.
The move has been met with widespread approval although some organisations, such as the GAA, are requesting an educational element to the programme, which is a new situation for many Irish athletes, especially in the amateur grades.
The first tests under the new programme, which will be run by the Irish Sports Council, will begin tomorrow. The Council will carry out 600 tests in their first year of the new programme. 60% of the tests will be at competive events and 40% out of competion testing.
The sports council will focus their testing on priority sports in the coming months with competitors due for Olympic action in Sydney next year the first participants. The conference continues tomorrow.
