Anti Doping Statement

Cian Sheahan, akart driver affiliated to Motor Sport Ireland, has committed an anti-doping rule violation.Mr Sheahan, a 26 year old from Co Cork, will serve a ban of 9 nine months as he was found to have taken cannabis in advance of a competition.

Mr Sheahan competed in a Munster Kart Club Race meeting at Watergrasshill, Co Cork, on March 11, 2012. He provided a sample which tested positive for the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolite or marker, tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis). The Disciplinary Panel found that this was contrary to Article 2.1 of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules and imposed sanctionof a period of ineligibility ofnine months, commencing on the date of his test.

It is accepted that cannabis may not enhance performance. Howeverthe Panel took into consideration the concentration of the prohibited substance in deciding on the severity of the sanction.In deciding the sanction the Panel also gave regard to the timely admission by the athlete of the offence which is both an acknowledgement of wrongdoing and avoids unnecessary delay and expense.

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. The hearing took place on May 24, 2012.


Under a new policy of the Irish Sports Council the full Decision of the Disciplinary Panel is available at http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Anti-Doping/Testing/Panel_Decisions/