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Drugs Test

Michael O'Reilly doping controversy: what happens next?

Irish boxer indicates that he expects to fight at Rio Olympics as planned.

– Niall Kelly reports from Rio de Janeiro

IRISH OLYMPIC MEDAL hopeful Michael O’Reilly finds himself at the heart of doping scandal this evening following news that he has failed a drugs test.

What do we know?

O’Reilly and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) were informed by Sport Ireland on Thursday of “an adverse analytical finding” in an A sample provided to anti-doping officers. The test did not take place at the Rio Olympics.

O’Reilly has been provisionally suspended pending further investigation and the conclusion of the anti-doping process.

What does O’Reilly’s suspension mean?

In accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, O’Reilly can take no part in any competition while provisionally suspended. Furthermore, he can take no part in any “sports activity”, which includes training.

The Portlaoise middleweight is due to begin his Olympic campaign next Friday, 12 August, against Misael Rodriguez of Mexico or Waheed Karaaawi of Iraq in the last 16 of the middleweight division.

What happens next?

O’Reilly has three options at this point in the process:

  • He can accept the findings reported in his A sample and be sanctioned for the doping violation.
  • He can request that his B sample be tested to ensure that the findings from both samples match.
  • He can appeal the provisional suspension on the grounds that he was not at fault or negligent, or if the violation was brought about by a contaminated product.

O’Reilly also has the right to request an expedited hearing on his case.

What are the authorities saying?

At the time of writing, O’Reilly has not been officially named as the boxer in question by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association or the Olympic Council of Ireland.

The IABA reiterated their policy “that doping is contrary to the spirit of sport and every member of the association has a duty to ensure that the sport is free of doping.” They will not be issuing any further comment until the process is complete.

Similarly, the Olympic Council of Ireland said that “no further communication will be made on the matter and the athlete’s identity will remain confidential unless the sanction is accepted or the B-sample is tested and also returns an adverse analytical finding.”

What is O’Reilly saying?

At 7.21pm Irish time — more than three hours after the controversy first broke — O’Reilly tweeted with an indication that he expects to fight as scheduled.

“Box on the 12th in the last 16 against the winner of Mexico or Iraq…”

Earlier > Irish Olympic boxer Michael O’Reilly has failed a doping test