Issued on behalf of Motor Cycling Union of Ireland and the Irish Sports Council

The Motor Cycling Union of Ireland and the Irish Sports Council jointly announce that the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel has determined that Thomas Lawlor, a rider affiliated to The Motor Cycling Union of Ireland, has committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The Panel found that, contrary to Article 2.1 of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules, Mr Lawlor, tested positive for the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolite or marker, tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis), in a sample of his urine collected during testing at the Irish Superbikes Championships on June 11th 2011.

Mr Lawlor's results in the race are automatically disqualified in accordance with the Irish Anti-Doping Rules. Mr Lawlor has also been sanctioned, subject to his right to appeal within 14 days, by the imposition on him of a period of ineligibility of sixteen months, commencing on the date of his provisional suspension, the 30th June 2011.

The hearing was held under Article 8 (Disciplinary Process) of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules and this announcement is made pursuant to Article 15 (Public Disclosure) of the Rules.