THE ISSUE OF doping in the GAA was thrown into the spotlight since the revelation at the weekend that a Gaelic footballer is being investigated after testing positive for steroids.
It increases the focus on GAA players and comes in the wake of last week’s announcement that the Irish Sports Council are set to introduce blood testing for inter-county hurlers and footballers.
Tipperary hurling captain Brendan Maher believes ‘the worry is always there’ and has expressed concern about the introduction of blood testing.
“I know that I wouldn’t like to have a blood test taken the day of the match, or after a match, because it would drain you so much. It would be a bit like the boxers, the day of the fight.
“It wouldn’t be good for any player to be releasing blood on the day of the game. You have to be so aware of what you are taking in when you have a cold or anything, there are so many things that you can’t take.
You would nearly be conscious of taking a Lemsip the way things have gone. I was tested last week, just after training and you would be worried.
“Our doctor is very good, in highlighting the things that we can’t take. For new players who are just coming in, it is important that they are aware.”
Maher is confident that an ethos of honesty exists in the GAA and insisted there has never been any conversations in their camp about doping potentially going on elsewhere.
“(We) never have talk like that. With the ethos of the GAA, you would never have talk like that or presumptions like that. The fact that we have had testing 14 years and this is the first positive test, excluding the one in 2008, that is a sign of how honest players are – and long may it continue.”
