THE GAA will go ahead with plans to introduce blood testing for players as part of the 2016 Anti-Doping programme rolled out by Sport Ireland, the National Agency for sport.
Blood testing in GAA has been mooted for some time, but costs and research have delayed it being introduced, although Ger Ryan – Chairman of the Medical Scientific and Welfare Committee [MSW] – insists it was only a matter of time.
"The GAA has worked closely with Sport Ireland on this and the programme that will be rolled out – while meeting with Sport Ireland’s requirements in this regard – has been designed taking careful consideration of the unique circumstances of our amateur players, their support personnel and our team and training structures," he said.
Sport Ireland is a merge of the Irish Sports Council, National Sports Campus Development Authority, Irish Institute of Sport and Coaching Ireland, who formed a streamlined governing body.
Urine testing was already in place and the main focus of the blood testing will be on inter-county panels, although Ryan stressed that it will not stop at the top level once they get to grips with the procedures for senior inter-county players.
He added: "The GAA had formulated a new four-year Anti-Doping Education Strategy for all levels of the Association to complement its existing initiatives, and that the main focus of this in 2016 would be on senior inter-county panels and support personnel."
Throughout 2015, 95 GAA players were tested as part of the programme, but that figure is set to rise significantly in 2016.
Meanwhile, Dublin star Bernard Brogan has labelled the plans “strange” as he does not believe GAA players have anything to hide, bemoaning the decision to disrupt the lives of amateur athletes.
![Ireland captain Bernard Brogan lifts the cup [Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan]](https://media.irishpost.co.uk/uploads/2015/11/Bernard-Brogan-lifts-the-cup-after-captaining-Ireland-to-victory-over-Australia.jpg)
Bernard Brogan, pictured lifting the Cormac McAnallen cup for Ireland [Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan]"I know the GAA, they want to be seen as the pure sport that they are and the culture of the GAA is very special so if that’s what we need to do to put ourselves on the map as the purest sport in the world, that’s what we need to do.
“I know the GAA have the best interests of the sport at heart but we have to do what we have to do. Is it the right way to do it? I’m not 100 per cent sure.
"We are amateur players. I know in certain sports it’s very important to test thoroughly because there are millions of euros at stake.
“If somebody wins a World Cup or a 100-metre race, there’s millions and millions at stake in sponsorship, whereas we do it for the love of the game and sport.”
However, in other quarters, the GAA have been praised for their forward-thinking, with many professional, lucrative and mainstream sports – such as soccer – yet to introduce blood testing.
Earlier this year, former Monaghan county footballer Thomas Connolly was suspended for two years after testing positive for anabolic steroids.
Those who refuse to co-operate with the new measures are liable to be banned for up to four years and GAA players who have a phobia of needles are asked to inform their team doctor by the start of next season.
