Monaghan footballer Thomas Connolly has been given a two-year ban after testing positive for anabolic steroids.
Connolly, who plays for Latton O'Rahilly GFC and has represented Monaghan at minor, U21 and senior level, tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid stanozolol (3’-hydroxystanozolol glucuronide) and becomes the first player in the history of the GAA to be banned for using performance enhancing drugs.
He tested positive in an out-of-competition test on 13 February, shortly after joining the senior panel for the 2015 National League.
The GAA anti-doping hearings committee backdated the ban to 18 March, when he was provisionally suspended by the GAA.
The committee reduced the ban from four to two years after accepting Connolly's claim that the steroids were not taken intentionally, under article 10.1.3 of the Irish anti-doping rules.
Connolly said he was given the tablets by a work colleague after he complained of pain and stiffness as a result of the training he was doing with the county panel. Although the tablets were labelled as containing anavar 10 (oxandrolone) - another anabolic steroid - after testing it was confirmed they in fact contained stanozolol, and so were the source of the positive test.
In his evidence, Connolly said he started taking four tablets a day for five days but said he was not aware the product was a prohibited substance.
The committee said that after considering all the evidence, it had come to the view that the violation was not intentional.
However it pointed out that Connolly "chose to accept tablets from someone with no medical qualifications. He did not seek advice from a doctor, pharmacist, nutritionist or anyone in the Monaghan set-up. He appears to have taken no steps to identify what it was that was provided to him."
The committee did praise his prompt admission and his co-operation with the hearing.
"Whilst his apparent lack of knowledge of the anti-doping rules could not operate as a defence to the violation itself, we do consider that it is relevant in terms of assessing his state of mind ... and could well explain what we consider to be, his naivety in the matter. "
The Gaelic Players Association called for Connolly's privacy to be respected while he serves the ban.
"Throughout the investigation and hearing, the GPA has provided the player with personal and professional support and will continue to do so notwithstanding that he is not a member of the players' body," the association said in a statement.
"GPA members are regularly informed that they may be selected for testing and that the ISC Anti-doping Code is enshrined in the GAA rulebook.
"All stakeholders within the games have a responsibility to ensure that players, particularly new panellists, are aware of the Anti-Doping Code and that we continue to support a culture of drug free sport within our games.
"We would appeal to everyone to respect the privacy of this young player and his family at this difficult time."
