Olympic boxer Michael O’Reilly is expected to claim a supplement he took is responsible for him failing a dope test ahead of the opening of the Rio games.
The Irish middleweight was suspended from boxing on Thursday and removed from training with the rest of the Irish team at their base in Rio de Janeiro. It is not known what banned substance caused the positive result in O’Reilly’s “A” sample.
John Joe Nevin, who won a silver medal at the London Olympics in 2012 and is now a professional boxer, has also called for O'Reilly to be removed from the Athletes' Village, where the rest of the team are staying. O'Reilly now stands as the first boxer to be sent home from an Olympic Games. Claiming a supplement was contaminated is an excuse many athletes have used in the past but has now become redundant.
His career
According to sources in the sport, O’Reilly is likely to face a ban, which means his Olympic games are at an end.
The talented middleweight, who boxes out of Portlaoise, may then have to consider if his career belongs in amateur or professional boxing.
It will not be the first time an Irish athlete has claimed that an adverse finding is not their fault. In 2003, Irish athlete Geraldine Hendricken, claimed supplements she had been taking were responsible for an adverse finding in her "A" sample following a routine doping test.
The positive result subsequently confirmed what the “A” sample had shown when the “B” sample was sent to Germany for examination. The 1,500m runner received a two-year ban from athletics.
O’Reilly also has the option of a hearing where he can make a case to stay in Rio.
It is believed he is in consultation with his solicitor and will soon make a decision on what option to pursue.
End in ignominy
If the third seed in his weight division opts for a hearing and that is successful, he can compete in the Olympics. If he opts for the “B” sample to be tested, the likelihood is that it will support the “A” sample and his Rio Olympics will end in ignominy. The
Irish Boxing Athletic Association
yesterday released a statement saying there would be no further comment on the case, which has dominated coverage of Irish athletes in Rio.
Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey praised Sport Ireland for its rigorous testing.
“My initial reaction is I’m absolutely thrilled that Sport Ireland are doing a great job with their anti-doping testing, the fact people are getting caught shows it is working successfully,” Mr Hickey told RTÉ yesterday.
