Two packages containing the performance-enhancing drug EPO addressed to athlete Cathal Lombard were intercepted by Customs officers in the last six months, The Irish Times has learned. Conor Lally & Ian O'Riordan report.
The packages originated in Brazil and are believed to have been purchased via the Internet. They were scanned by officers at An Post's SDS parcel depot on the Naas Road in Dublin. The packages were retained and Irish Medicines Board (IMB) officials were called in to examine them.
It is understood that if Lombard had not tested positive for EPO, the Irish Sports Council was planning to ban him by using the evidence of trafficking against him.
Lombard was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) after formally admitting yesterday he took EPO.
In a statement, Lombard called for his 10,000 metre Irish record to be annulled. He added: "As unbelievable and ironic as it may seem, I am strongly against doping in sport. It would be my greatest wish now to join the fight against doping."
In his statement to the AAI, Lombard apologised for the hurt caused by his positive test last month. He waived his right for an analysis of the B-sample and has forgone his right to a hearing. He said he wanted his Irish record annulled "out of my respect for Mark Carroll and in the interest of the sport". He now faces a two-year suspension by the Irish Sports Council.
Lombard would have been aware from at least late June that the parcels had been intercepted or gone missing. The sports council was informed about the parcels by Customs in early July. It then targeted the athlete with additional drugs testing.
No decision has been taken as to if or how Lombard might be prosecuted by the IMB.
The board issued a statement last night in which it said it "cannot comment on individual cases but it can confirm, as in all circumstances relating to the illegal importation of medicines, that it will take appropriate action as it deems necessary once all data and information is assessed".
Those who import such substances illegally face a maximum fine of €127,000 and/or up to 10 years in jail if found guilty on indictment. The IMB's focus is to safeguard public health so it is much more likely to take a case against an individual importing controlled substances for sale or supply rather than for personal use.
The chief executive of the Irish Sports Council, Mr John Treacy, said it was a matter for the IMB as to whether Lombard should be prosecuted.
Lombard said he felt athletics in Ireland "is generally a clean sport . . . What I have done is very negative for the sport and I deeply regret that".
He commended his coach Joe Doonan and said he had absolutely no knowledge of the drug-taking.