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Post by kerrygold on May 11, 2007 22:03:14 GMT
ya,i'm not convienced the vast majority of clean players should have to run the gauntlet and risk accidental drugs test failure just because of a handfull of cheats in the game.
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bigmac
Junior Member
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Post by bigmac on May 12, 2007 7:39:40 GMT
you must be convienced bigmac that its a big problem in the gaa.Its a big gamble for amateur gaa players to take who have to go to work for the rest of their lives and risk the stigma attached if caught in relation to gaining employment and credit in their small villages and rural communities.Also the health implications involved.Lads who have lost finals will tell you its actually irrelevant wheither they were won or lost 10 years down the line. The irony of it is that the gaa were not happy at the time but were backed into a corner on the grants issue.I'd prefere if had been a gaa decission to test initally.The possibility of innocent amatuer players wrongly accused is a big concern for me. I can see what your getting at but i also feel martin breheny makes a lot of very valid points in his article.Personally with the huge expectations placed on the modern intercounty player now i cant see this strictly amatuer status lasting much longer than the turn of the decade.Its either one or the other in my book. martin breheny also pointed out that there is no evidence of drug taking by intercounty players. absolutely not,as i said in a pm but as as i also said for the sake of the youngsters coming through we must be seen to whiter than white when it comes to testing.the kids must be able to look up to their idols and know their not cheats
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Post by mickmack on May 12, 2007 8:49:06 GMT
what has the armagh MAOR UISCE got in that bottle. The plot thickens.
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joan
Full Member
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Post by joan on May 12, 2007 13:06:16 GMT
Could not agree with you more bigmac. So important that there is a standard set. You really have to much tollerance at home to drugs in general. Or denial I not really sure. But its not discussed.It wont go away a stand has to be taken and it its at GAA then so be it.
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Post by kerrygold on May 12, 2007 13:24:55 GMT
the thing is its not the gaa thats making the stance,also there is no evidence of drug taking by county players,also street drugs and performance drugs are different issues.
if a drug problem did arise in the future it could very quickly be eradicated with stringent testing.
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Post by kerrygold on May 12, 2007 13:26:43 GMT
also i dont think its fair to stigmatise county players with what happens every weekend in every town,village and city in ireland on the streets and night clubs.
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bigmac
Junior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by bigmac on May 12, 2007 13:45:38 GMT
the thing is its not the gaa thats making the stance. yes but they should be leaders and not followers
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Post by kerrygold on May 13, 2007 17:19:47 GMT
gaa players were the sixth most tested athletes in the country last year with 43 players tested.No players has failed a drugs test since they were introduced.
sorry those figures are 41 players tested in '02,and 43 tested in '03.it doesnt give the figures for last year.
damian lawlor carries an article in todays indo if anyone is interested.
its clear from the article a lot of people involved in the game dont favour testing,one line that jumps out is,"to be seen to be done to keep people happy".
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bigmac
Junior Member
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Post by bigmac on May 14, 2007 17:03:57 GMT
Drug-testing procedures under review by GAA ADVERTISEMENT
DAMIAN LAWLOR
WITH the championship beginning today, the GAA is reassessing its current drug-testing procedures with the Irish Sports Council after a hurler was left waiting for hours to provide a urine sample after an important match.
Testing systems were seriously called into question when the Kilkenny player was detained in a small room for well over two hours after the recent National League final against Waterford in Thurles. Dehydrated, the player in question wasn't able to provide a sample for some time and was left waiting well into the evening..
In a letter of complaint from a member of the Kilkenny medical team, there was an acknowledgment that the procedures have greatly improved since their introduction in 2002. However, apart from criticisms of the confined space of the testing room, there was frustration that the tester in question was not fully trained.
"It's a Catch 22 situation," said one GAA official. "Obviously we want to ensure there are no drugs, but the guys are amateurs and it's taken many of us some time to get used to the idea. However, we have little choice. If we refuse to comply, it's as if we are hiding something and with all the serious scientific training that's been done at the moment, the procedure needs to be undertaken to keep people happy.
"It was unfortunate that the player in question couldn't produce a sample for so long afterwards, but there's little that can be done about that. However, we can work on trying to ensure that all problems are smoothed for the championship and that locations for such tests are suitable. For example, the newly refurbished Semple Stadium will include a drug-testing room when completed. We are confident that our facilities will match that all over the country."
The whole drug-testing issue among amateur players has been hotly contested by the GPA in the past. Since the players are amateurs, the argument is that they shouldn't be subjected to such intense and often embarrassing procedures. At one stage the GPA considered an official withdrawal from open season testing and bemoaned the lack of education on such matters for their members.
GAA players were the sixth most tested athletes by the Irish Sports Council last year and when it came into operation in 2002, 41 players were summoned, with 43 players a year later.
So far no GAA player has failed the test.
Player Welfare manager Pauric Duffy last week reminded the players to be aware of the procedure as they face into the championship.
An e-mail sent to intercounty managers, players and officials outlined that testing had already commenced and stressed the importance of informing players correctly in relation to anti-doping systems..
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