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

The Motor Cycling Union of Ireland and the Irish Sports Council jointly announced that the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel has determined that Gary Gibson, a motocross rider who participated in a competition under the auspices of 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, the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolite, cannabis, was found in a sample of the rider's urine collected during testing at the North Dublin Adult MX on the 2nd of November 2008.

Mr. Gibson's results in the race are automatically disqualified in accordance with the Irish Anti-Doping Rules. Mr. Gibson 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 weeks and one day (113 days). The Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel had discretion in this case as to the sanction it decided to impose. The Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel offered Mr. Gibson a shorter period of ineligibility based on the provision of an undertaking by Mr. Gibson that he will cooperate with any reasonable request by the Irish Sports Council or the Motor Cycling Union of Ireland to participate and/or assist in any anti-doping programme for the sport of motor cycling. Mr. Gibson has been provisionally suspended since the 4th of December 2008 and the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel determined that this would be the commencement date of the period of ineligibility, allowing Mr. Gibson to compete again on the afternoon of the 27th of March 2009.

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.

Further information:
Paul McDermott
Irish Sports Council
087-6486295