The Taoiseach has spoken for the first time about the Cian O'Connor controversy.
Bertie Ahern said he was disappointed by the doping controversy, that Mr O'Connor had given seven years of service to his country, and that he hoped the Irish rider could get through the current controversy intact.
Mr Ahern said that, as Mr O'Connor had said he had done nothing wrong and his veterinarian had said he had done nothing wrong, he was innocent until it was decided otherwise and until then due process had to be observed.
The Taoiseach was speaking in Singapore at the end of a week-long visit to South East Asia where he attended the Asia-Europe ASEM Summit in Hanoi and held talks with the prime ministers of Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
He is due to visit the Gulf State of Bahrain on his return journey to Ireland tomorrow.
