FAI National League: Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Barry Ryan now looks certain to be the first eircom League player to face an FAI tribunal on drug charges after the organisation confirmed yesterday that the B sample of an unnamed player, widely known to be the former UCD man, had tested positive for an unspecified banned substance.
The drug involved in the case is reported to be primarily recreational but Ryan could still face a ban of up to two years in the event that the tribunal - which will consist of a medical expert, a senior sports administrator and a lawyer - conclude he has in fact committed the offence.
An initial hearing is expected to take place within the next couple of weeks after which Ryan would, if he were found guilty, have the right of appeal to a separate, but similarly constituted, three-strong panel.
A spokesman for the FAI said yesterday that it was impossible to accurately predict when the process might be completed if it goes all the way as this is the first case of its kind to arise within the Irish game but, he said, the procedures would all be in line with those agreed with the Sports Council two years ago.
"What the B sample result does," he observed, "is to provide the FAI with strong evidence that an offence has taken place. It will now be the responsibility of the tribunal to decide on whether the player in question has actually committed that offence."
Shamrock Rovers chairman Tony Maguire, who declined to confirm the identity of the player and said that it had not been officially confirmed to the club, insisted the club would make no decision on what action it might take until the FAI's tribunal has delivered its verdict and any subsequent appeals had been decided upon.
"This is a difficult position for us," he said, "because we are integrated with a large schoolboy club and it would be unthinkable that we might be perceived as condoning drug taking in any way but the fact remains that the player is still entitled to due process.
"If he is found guilty then we would certainly, at the very least I would imagine, abide by any punishment that might be handed out but we have to remember that nothing is proven at this point and we don't want to prejudge the situation."
St Patrick's Athletic are still waiting on news regarding the condition of Ugandan international Charles Mbabazi Livingstone who is continuing to undergo tests at
St James' Hospital after leaving the pitch during Friday's league game against Bohemians with severe chest pains. Keith Fahey, meanwhile, will have an X-ray on his foot today after the injury he picked up in the same game continued to cause him considerable pain yesterday despite the fact that the swelling had gone down considerably.
Longford manager Alan Matthews has problems of his own although he is still hopeful that Alan Kirby, Darragh Sheridan (both ankle) and Seán Prunty (flu) might yet be available for Sunday's FAI Cup final at Lansdowne Road.
"What I'd be looking for, though, is they play some part against Derry (tonight)," he said yesterday. "I'm not saying they absolutely have to play to have any chance of playing (in the final) but it would be a lot to ask any of them to play in a cup final without playing for three weeks so I would certainly like them to."
Derry will be without Liam Coyle (thigh) for at least two weeks but Gavin Dykes is hoping that both Ciarán Martyn and Gary Beckett will shake off bouts of the flu in time to feature at Flancare Park.
Bohemians, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain their momentum in the title race by securing an eighth win in 10 games when they visit UCD this evening. Stephen Kenny has virtually a full squad to choose from for the game with only Mark Rutherford ruled out by a hip injury.
Stephen Caffrey is fit again after missing Friday's win in Inchicore with a calf strain but the midfielder may struggle to reclaim his place after Thomas Heary performed solidly in what is his preferred position.
UCD are likely to be without John Martin for the game while in the evening's other game Mark Quinless returns from suspension for Drogheda but Pat Scully (knee) is rated doubtful for the meeting with a Rovers team expected to be unchanged from the one that beat Shelbourne on Friday.
