RUGBY Anti-Doping Rule Violation

The Irish Sports Council and the Irish Rugby Football Union jointly announce that the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel has determined that Mark Mahony, an amateur rugby player under the jurisdiction of the Irish Rugby Football Union, who plays for Terenure RFC has committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The Panel found that, contrary to Article 2.1 of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules, Mr. Mahony was found to have terbutaline, a Prohibited Substance pursuant to the WADA Prohibited Substances List, in his bodily specimen collected during in-competition testing at a match between Terenure RFC and UL Bohemians on the 16th February 2008. 

Terbutaline is commonly found in asthma medication.  An athlete may use asthma medication containing a specified Prohibited Substance provided that he or she has a Therapeutic Use Exemption from the Irish Sports Council.  Mr. Mahony failed to renew a previous Therapeutic Use Exemption upon its expiry and was sanctioned with a reprimand and warned of the serious nature of not keeping his Therapeutic Use Exemption in order.

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.
Ends.

Further information:

Paul McDermott  Irish Sports Council   087-6486295
Sinéad McElroy Irish Sports Council  087-6338512