Are inter-county GAA players testing for drugs after games in the All Ireland championships ?

Redhot (Cork) - Posts: 739 - 23/07/2009 09:25:32    357880

If they aren't getting the grants then they shouldn't be getting tested, simple as that! I think they are getting tested though.

Bald Eagle (None) - Posts: 1009 - 23/07/2009 10:24:08    357950

I understand they are.

beer baron (Cavan) - Posts: 3916 - 23/07/2009 10:31:58    357960

Bald Eagle
County: All
Posts: 790

357950 If they aren't getting the grants then they shouldn't be getting tested, simple as that! I think they are getting tested though.

Spot on Bald... great to see you posting again man.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 23/07/2009 10:36:35    357970

Thats the thing there is no way they should have to provide drug tests they are not professionals so therefore it is irrelevant!Aidan O'Mahony was nearly ruined because of it...An amateur shouldn't have to consent!

paddym123 (Meath) - Posts: 367 - 23/07/2009 10:36:36    357971

As an ex-member of the GPA, I'm usually quite critical of them and some of their ideals, but I believe they should remove support for drug testing. On another point, why are people, especially amateur GAA players named before proof of guilt after a positive test?? They should not be named unless guilt has been proved of the offence. Aidan O'Mahony lived with this hanging over his head for a long period of time. This is completely unjust for an amateur player to have to undergo this for doing nothing wrong!

gaamad (Westmeath) - Posts: 101 - 23/07/2009 10:47:50    357988

Yes please.

superfarney (Monaghan) - Posts: 260 - 23/07/2009 11:34:15    358062

I dont see a problem with drug testing, no sporting organisation whether amateur or professional should condone drug taking.

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4669 - 23/07/2009 11:40:05    358073

Why should you get tested for playing a sport that you don't get paid for? They aren't doing it for a living yet the way the GAA handled the ONE case they have had so far could have easily ruined the livelyhood of the "guilty" party!

Isn't it bad enough that the inter county players of today are expected to train like pros and be positive role models and still hold down a full time job?

horseman (Tyrone) - Posts: 292 - 23/07/2009 11:45:57    358081

Of course bad.monkey, it's more important to have good optics to the outside world than preserve the dignity if innocence amateur players who have to live in the community and work jobs 9 - 5.

gaamad (Westmeath) - Posts: 101 - 23/07/2009 11:46:50    358084

So GAA players should be allowed take performance enhancing drugs because they are amateur, i disagree

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4669 - 23/07/2009 11:55:43    358108

I don't think anyone is saying that they should or shouldn't take performance enhancers, you can twist whatever words you want to twist!

Should they be tested because they are amatuer? If so then why stop at inter county?

Bald Eagle (None) - Posts: 1009 - 23/07/2009 12:01:39    358121

bad.monkey, nice way to put words in my mouth when I clearly didn't say that. I have never seen or heard anything about drugs in my 20 odd years playing in the association. There has never been and never will be a drugs issue in the GAA. It is an amateur sport. What's next, test people playing tag rugby... after all it is an amateur sport and they shouldn't be exempt!

gaamad (Westmeath) - Posts: 101 - 23/07/2009 12:09:10    358144

The question is are GAA players taking performance enhancing drugs ?

I believe that some players are if there is no testing of players for drugs

What do you think ?

Redhot (Cork) - Posts: 739 - 23/07/2009 12:13:08    358160

Any sportsperson playing at the top level should be liable to be drug tested. If you do not even randomly test for drugs, you are basically condoning it.

Over E20million is spent preparing intercounty teams every year, so yes they should be liable to random drug tests.

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4669 - 23/07/2009 12:17:29    358169

Red Hot - I've played alongside and against players that enjoyed suffering from the old Columbian Flu, one is still playing for his county at the moment and still has the weekend sniffles, a lot of recreational stuff goes on and i know that for a fact, some players i know do it during the season and frankly i've been amazed that no-one has been caught out with the testing! We should test yes, but the players tested should be financially rewarded for the efforts they put into being modern day GAA stars, if they fail a test then they have all the pitfalls that go with it, including losing out financially. At the moment with the lack of grants, the pitfall is only one way, and that isn't fair on the player who could lose his livelyhood for a sport he does not get paid for playing!

Bald Eagle (None) - Posts: 1009 - 23/07/2009 12:21:52    358179

Do they ever drug test the referees as i often wonder about them !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 23/07/2009 12:35:29    358210

I think referees should be drug tested.

Real Kerry Fan (None) - Posts: 2957 - 23/07/2009 12:42:15    358218

I dont think players should be tested for recreational drugs thats their own business, only performance enhancing drugs.

gaamad if you cant see the difference between tag rugby players and intercounty gaa players there is little point discussing the issue with you

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4669 - 23/07/2009 12:52:21    358253

Realkerryfan,Why should ref's be drug-tested?

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 23/07/2009 13:14:03    358300