A new study into nutritional supplements published by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has highlighted further the implications for GAA players as they come to terms with the Irish Sports Council's anti-doping programme. Almost 15 per cent of the supplements analysed would lead to an unintentional positive doping test.
Based on the results the IOC has warned against the use of nutritional supplements by athletes subject to drug testing. Their study of 634 supplements in 13 countries revealed that 94 (14.8 per cent) contained substances not listed on the label that would have led to a positive doping test.
"The results of this study are alarming," says pharmacist Brendan Rochford, who worked with the GAA in the development of their anti-doping code. "The problem here is that supplements do not comply with the same standards of quality control as medicines, so this is a clear warning against the use of such supplements."
The IOC has been calling for international regulation of supplements for several years with no success. The full details of their study have yet to be published, but the initial figures indicate the risk players take by using supplements. Out of the 94 positive samples 23 contained precursors of both nandrolone and testosterone - substances widely associated with steroid abuse.
According to Rochford, there is no definitive data on the use of supplements within the GAA. Most are advertised as legal and are widely used. Based on enquiries to the eirpharm.com, the website endorsed by the Sports Council and run in part by Rochford, some players would be taking three or four different supplements.
"When it comes to testing many players would be at risk of possible contamination," he says.
The issues of drug-testing is sure to be to the fore when the Gaelic Players Committee sit down tomorrow evening with Croke Park officials. Dessie Farrell, Glen Ryan and Donal O'Neill of the GPA will meet GAA president Seán McCague, director general Liam Mulvihill and Croke Park's own players' committee chairman Jarlath Burns.
